The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) (19 page)

“You know best.” Although Jeep trusted Grikkl, his grave manner made Jeep uneasy and fearful.

“Remember yesterday in Dexter’s lab? When he threw things at you, none of them hit you. Strange, wasn’t it? Then later when Uuglash sent his evil bolts at you, they didn’t hit you either. Remember that?”

“Of course—it’s puzzling. They were too close for his aim to be so bad.”

“Exactly so. What saved you wasn’t a matter of their bad aim. He couldn’t harm you, and it was that realization that really scared Dexter and Uuglash. They knew they were no match for you. Strange—since you assumed you were no match for them.”

 “What happened, then? It doesn’t make sense.”

“No, it doesn’t make sense. You’d consider it impossible if you hadn’t seen it yourself. But it did happen—or your mother wouldn’t be here. Despite their much greater strength, you managed to do something remarkable.”

“I survived?”

 “Not only that, Jeep. You used a new power—one you didn’t have before.”

“But I didn’t do anything at all because I didn’t know what to do.”

“That’s probably what protected you. You weren’t too sure of yourself. Not over-confident”

“That’s for sure! No confidence at all!”

“Dexter and Uuglash were getting back exactly what they dished out. You reflected the evil back to the person who sent it—exactly the same amount.”

“I couldn’t have, Grikkl. I don’t know how. Besides, it happened too fast.”

Grikkl idly stroked his beard, “Seems that way, doesn’t it? But you did do something—something more important than you had any way of knowing.”

“Huh? What?”

“You trusted your krindle. Remember?”

“But I only said that. I didn’t know how to do it, or even what it meant.”

“Doesn’t matter. Just saying that was the right choice to make. The only one that could’ve saved you. All that faduki you’ve been eating developed your krindle. Your binkle activities charge it up. Yesterday it all paid off. When you needed the krindle’s power it was there for you.”

“But it didn’t happen like that! Honest, I was there.”

“Jeep, the krindle did it¼, whatever you think. If I had the sense to do what you did back when I met up with Uuglash, I’d still have a whole foot.”

 “No, Grikkl, no¼ Why can’t you believe me? I don’t even know what that means.”

“Sure, I believe you. But what I’m telling you is true all the same. What happened when you were face to face with full-blown evil is how the krindle works once in a while.

“Let’s back up a little. Remember us talking about my shimmering? You see me shimmer, but I can’t see it myself. There’s an energy field on the outside, around me. I can look right through it without ever seeing that it’s there.”

“Yea, I suppose. So?”

“That same kind of force protected you, too. The krindle caused a temporary energy field a lot like that to form around you. Puny, I’ll admit. It wasn’t strong enough to continue very long. Good thing you made a run for it when you did.”

“How? I still don’t understand.”

“When conditions are right and the binkles are strong enough, the krindle can form an energy barrier around a body. It’s invisible but as solid as steel. That’s what turned back Uuglash’s blast of evil.”

“But why?¼”

“There’s no cruelty in you. So the evil energy they sent your way had to bounce back where it came from—to Uuglash.”

“You’re telling me my krindle can do that without me doing anything?”

“Exactly so. Your krindle worked. Amazing, isn’t it?”

“Amazing is right! And a little scary.”

“What protected you is called ‘tablixx.’ That’s the name of that energy barrier. It’s a marvel you experienced it already—you being so young.”

 “Good thing! Because without that I didn’t stand a chance1”

~~~

Grikkl’s constant nursing, with Jeep’s help, began to rebuild Helen’s strength. As she cleared out the cobwebs of her mind, she started to notice bits of what was happening around her. She steadily added more simple activities—feeding herself, brushing her teeth, playing with Lulu. Her speech was like that of a small child, and she wasn’t able to put ideas together. A puzzled expression never left her face.

Jeep kept watching for any signs of her cheery self. But they were mighty slow in coming.
I’m sure it’s only
temporary. She’ll be better soon
.

Several days after Helen arrived Grikkl told Jeep, “We need to go tell Chris how Helen is doing. No doubt Elkhorn told him she’s missing. I’m sure he’s worried about her.”

After dark Jeep and Grikkl walked to the roadway, where they caught a taxi. Jeep asked, “Why don’t we just go by magic?”

 “Why rely on magic, when a taxi will do very well?” Then he dropped his voice and looked a bit sheepish. “If you must know, there’s another reason—more personal. We’re going into your world. I need to save every bit of my energy for while we’re with Chris. I have a rough time holding myself together for long out here.”

“Oh, yes. The kittens hendrini problem?”

“Exactly so. I can’t stay away long without fracturing.”

“That’s going to confuse him even more than him wondering what I’m doing with someone like you.”

“That’s probably the least of what we talk about. Just don’t let me lose track of the time.”

Chris came to the door when they knocked. “Jeep, what’s going on? Why aren’t you in bed? And who is this person with you?”

Before Jeep could open his mouth, Grikkl took charge. In a theatrical gesture, he bowed so low his head almost touched the floor. Then he marched into the living room with Jeep close behind. Grikkl held up his hand to forestall any more of Chris’ questions.

“Good sir, we’ve come with important news about your wife, Helen.”

Mentioning Helen got Chris’s attention. He exploded with questions that revealed how worried he was about her.

“All in good time, sir, all in good time.” Grikkl paused as he gestured for all to be seated. “Your wife was held under a disabling spell that robbed her of her wits and kept her sick for some time. Young Mister Jeep’s courageous efforts rescued her from that cheerless nightmare. I’m happy to say, she’s improving now under my care.”

 Grikkl told him as much as he could, without revealing the hard-to-believe parts (which made the story hang together). Chris didn’t get all the answers he asked for, but it was more than he had before (and probably as much as he could handle).

Grikkl admitted, “It’s too early to make predictions about her recovery, Chris. But given Helen’s exhausted condition, I’m hopeful. What I’m doing for her now offers her the best chance to recover. Maybe the only one. Have I your permission to continue?”

Chris nodded—more than likely from his head spinning than agreement. But Grikkl acted like the discussion was finished and Chris had agreed.

~~~

Changing subjects and with a chattier tone, Grikkl commented, “Too bad about your terrible experience with the truffles. Would it surprise you to know that I’m an expert when it comes to cultivating truffles?

“Really?” Jeep asked in surprise. “How did you manage that?”

“Aye, Laddie. I’m a gnome, you know. Gnomes and truffles share a lot of history together. We both dwell under oak trees. Living together for thousands of years has taught gnomes a thing or two about what makes truffles thrive. I know exactly what it takes to grow them.”

“Don’t tell me you know...?” Chris managed to sound both disbelieving and eager to hear more at the same time.

“Indeed, it’s tricky—but no mystery to me. Young Jeep described how hard you both worked to figure it out. Impressive effort. Would it bother you for me to come right out and tell you the tricks?”

“Tell me! Were our experiments on the right track?”

“You almost had it. But there’s a missing piece you hadn’t solved. Without that, the other answers couldn’t accomplish very much.”

“I’ve gotta know,” Christ insisted impatiently.

“Don’t worry, Chris. I’m getting to that. Truffles grow because of the relationship between the truffle fungus and the oak roots, which benefits them both. The roots provide water and carbohydrates for the fungus. At the same time, the fungus helps the roots absorb minerals from the soil. The scientific term for how they grow together is
mycorrheza
(
myco
, fungus, and
rheza
, roots).

“That part is well known. I’m sure you’re familiar with it. What’s not known is that there’s a third life form involved that’s every bit as important—a particular bacteria. It has to be there for the other two to be able to grow and nourish each other. When that bacteria isn’t present, no truffles. What you still needed to figure out relates to that bacteria.”

“What bacteria? How...?”

“Hold on. That’s a conversation for another day. Don’t worry, I’ll explain it all. Right now Jeep and I need to get back to Helen.”

He started to go, then paused at the door and spoke as though the words were an afterthought.

“Before we go, I have a proposal for you. Young Jeep here, has done me a great service—which I can never fully repay. In gratitude, I beg that you permit me to do a good turn for your family. I’d like to offer you the use of charming cottage located near where I live. This isn’t an ordinary house, if you get my meaning. It’s in my oak forest, which grows truffles just as you imagined it could happen.”

“You mean it produces truffles now? Already? That takes years!”

“Exactly so—more than you can imagine, enough for a comfortable living. Help yourself to them. Sell as many as you can gather. Money won’t be a problem anymore.”

Grikkl’s manner turned businesslike, “However, you must guard the information I share with you. Tell no one else. How you come by the truffles you sell must remain our secret. Is that acceptable?”

“I promise—no problem there.” So a deal was quickly settled.

Still at the doorway on his way out, Grikkl added, “I’ll let you know when Helen can move to the cottage. OK?”

A stunned and disoriented Chris nodded. Grikkl had that effect on people.

“ I trust it’s acceptable to you that young Jeep stays on with me to help care for his mother.”

Chris nodded again. Then he glanced at Jeep, as though noticing his presence for the first time. “How do you fit in all this, Jeep?”

“I’d love to explain—but the kittens¼”

“Oh yes, the kittens,” said Grikkl with urgency.” We must go.”

He marched out before Chris could say another word. Once they were on the street, Grikkl took Jeep by the hand—and this time they traveled by magic.

~~~

Helen improved bit by bit, but she wasn’t close to being her old self. Her emotions remained turned off. She was neither happy nor unhappy. She could speak in simple sentences and listen when people spoke to her. But she didn’t understand much of what they told her. Saddest of all, she couldn’t binkle. She couldn’t sort out the meaning of what she heard or saw.

Several weeks into her recovery Grikkl reported, “Jeep, I’ve done everything I can for your mother. But her emotional links are gone and her krindle’s broken. She suffered too much damage at Elkhorn for me to fix. She will improve and can live with you and Chris again. But she won’t ever be like you remembered her.”

“Are you certain? Isn’t there anything else? If we gave it more time¼”

“I’m sorry. I’ve tried and tried—even with my best knowledge and magic. There’s nothing more to do.”

“That can’t be true, Grikkl. We got her out of there—it can’t end like this.”
It’s not fair... Not fair,
Jeep cried inside.

~~~

Grikkl suffered from his failure as well. Was this to be another victory for Uuglash after all? How much was due to his failure? Was he getting “old” and losing his edge—past his prime and effectiveness?

Grikkl suggested, “It’s time to get you, your mother, and Chris into that cottage as soon as we can. Your lives will be better because you’re together again—even if it’s less than what you hoped for.”

The cottage was charming, just like an enchanted cottage tucked among the old oak trees should be. It was surrounded by a white picket fence, overgrown with trellised roses and ivy. Less apparent was the abundance of truffles beneath the surface.

It didn’t take many days for the three of them (plus MeToo) to settle into their new home. Helen was able to cook and clean around the house, but she did it in a rather mechanical way. Jeep still could go to the same school, so he got together with Anna and Louise often.

Grikkl patiently taught his truffle secrets to Chris and Jeep. Plenty of the pungent and valuable knobs were ready to be gathered. Chris started to build a successful truffle business. Since he no longer worked at several jobs, he wasn’t worn out and discouraged any more.

MeToo learned how to be a truffle dog. Lulu moved in with the family and became a truffle “dog” as well. So before long life settled into a routine that was OK, although considerably less than wonderful.

Chapter 18—

A MAGICAL TEA PARTY

Weeks later, the day that Jeep secretly longed for arrived—Adah was back. She’d heard from Grikkl how things stood with Jeep’s mom and about their move to the cottage.

When Adah saw Jeep, she stretched out her arms to hold him close.
I want to hold onto this moment as tightly as she holds onto me.

After they caught up on this and that she said to him, “We must go to the Chamber of Ancient Wisdom together. Grikkl was just waiting for my return.”

Once Grikkl, Adah and Jeep were settled in at the Chamber, Grikkl held Jeep’s gaze for a long time. “Jeep, what I’m about to tell you may be disturbing. I don’t want to add to your pain, but truth must be served.”

“I can take it—if you think it’s something I should know.”

“Good Laddie. You know how upset I was that I couldn’t heal your mother. I sensed there must be more than just an illness at work on her. Indeed, there was. I was able to learn, don’t ask me how, that your mother was marked for Uuglash’s evil schemes even before she went to Elkhorn.

“Before she got sick, she used to be extra high energy, a walking binkle fountain. Not hard to spot that much special energy, either. Don’t you agree? The day she took sick, she went to a job interview. The person she met was a recruiter who recognized what she could offer. But he wasn’t thinking of jobs. He saw her as a binkle source. Like Del Dexter, he (along with others like him) played their part in the whole ugly, devious scheme. He gave her something that messed with her wits, pushed her over the edge.