The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) (7 page)

“These things aren’t merely priceless or beautiful. Each of them has a special energy. If you bother to notice, you probably can feel the powerful binkle energy in this chamber. Everything here is saturated with it. And one way or another, all this involves protecting binkle power.

“Only a few of those long-ago confrontations between light and dark energies show up in the myths or fairy tales. Much more has been lost to memory—but their existence here keeps a tangible link to what could so easily be forgotten.”

“You mean, those mythical battles I’ve read about really happened?”

“Aye, Laddie. They were real enough at the time, and stay alive in the re-telling. Myth doesn’t mean made up. You know. There’s a nugget of truth in them.”

“Wow! How old is this place?”

“Enough questions, Laddie. Any of us who are still alive and know what’s at stake must continue to fight that worthy fight.” His eyes misted up with sad memories. Grikkl fell silent as a lone tear followed the lattice of wrinkles until it was lost in his bushy white beard.

“Even today?”

 “Especially today, Laddie. The stakes are higher than ever. There’s much truth to be learned from the old myths and folk tales. They speak directly to the emotions. The language of love and the heart. The bravery of those mostly nameless heroes in costly defeats and victories is beyond imagining. These marvelous treasures you see here are just the reminders of their noble sacrifices.”

“I’ll bet you could tell me a story about everything that’s in here,” Jeep suggested hopefully.

“That I could, Jeep, that I could¼ But there won’t be time for that today. Not all the tales are as grand as King Arthur and his knights. And not all these treasures come from mighty battles. Like this here.”

Grikkl grabbed a coil of rope. It seemed ordinary except for its strange shiny color. “This rope was made by Hildegarde the Worthy—although she was just plain Hildegarde when she made this. She lived in the mountains of Bavaria, she did—not yet twenty years old. About thirty women were held for ransom in a tower overlooking steep and dangerous high mountain cliffs. Their captors were slowly starving them to death, and they couldn’t last much longer.

“Hildegard persuaded all the women to cut off their hair and they worked for days to braid it into this strong rope. The captives used it to get away through the only window in the tower. Their courageous escape inspired the rest of the villagers to stand up to the tyrants and drive them off.”

“I’ll bet that was a long time ago, wasn’t it?”

“Aye, Jeep. Tyrants have been around a long time—but they’re still around today, too. Enough history, I brought you here for a special reason.

“Is it magic?”

Grikkl smiled his wise and mysterious smile, “That’s your answer for everything, isn’t it? But you could say so. Magic, at least the good kind, certainly can’t happen without it. But it’s more like energy, a special kind of energy.”

“I’m not following you.”

“That’s because you can’t understand what I’m talking about—not with the head, anyway. It’s something you have to feel here.” He patted his heart. “When you’re able to feel this energy yourself the rest of what I’m saying will make more sense to you. Still, today you start to understand something big—and small at the same time.”

Grikkl absent-mindedly stroked his beard before asking, “What do you know about atoms, Jeep?”

“My class spent a week studying atoms. They’re extremely tiny, but everything you can touch is made out of them.”

“That’s right Laddie. But the energy that comes from atoms has immense power—more power than you’d suspect from their teeny size. What I’m talking about, the binkle power accumulated in this chamber, is a lot like atomic energy—small but powerful. Once you know what you’re looking for, you are able to recognize signs of that power everywhere.

“Notice all the pictures and statues down here? They played a part in bringing more binkle energy into the world, too. Binkles and beauty go together. Since binkles can happen whenever a person is touched by something beautiful, it’s often found in the natural beauty of the outdoors. Or you can find them in any of the arts—like in music, and paintings, and dance, and poetry.

“Great art touches a person deeply because some artists are skilled enough to capture binkles energy in what they make. Through their art other people can actually feel the energy that inspired their creation.”

Jeep was used to Grikkl saying little, but that day Grikkl spoke for a long time without a break. Jeep didn’t follow all of what Grikkl told him. But he could tell the gnome was revealing secrets known only to a few. Grikkl finally stopped talking, and the silence grew as long as the shadows around the chamber.

Jeep timidly asked, “Why are you telling all this to me?”

“Because you already used this energy. So you need to understand it better.”

“How could I? I just found out about it.”

“Jeep, don’t you realize you used it when you called out to me that night I brought you home.”

“When you found me? You must be mistaken. I was helpless. I did nothing.”

Grikkl erupted. “Nothing?! Nothing?! Don’t be silly! You summoned magic to your aid. It was weak. But I felt it and the animals felt it, too.”

“No way! I couldn’t have! I don’t know how. I’ll admit, I tried. I made a wish but it didn’t change anything.”

 “Not change anything?!” Grikkl bellowed. “Not change anything¼!”

 “Nothing happened, I tell you.”

 “And I’m telling you it did! You foolish, foolish boy. You called me to you. I was obligated to respond to your summons. And there was no doubt magic was at work.”

“You felt that...? I guess I have to believe you, but how?”
But I couldn’t have, I couldn’t have¼ That makes no sense at all.

 “Yes Laddie, I felt the urgency of your summons. What I didn’t yet know was whether it was dark power or light power you were using.”

 “Really? Then you must have decided I’m OK, or you wouldn’t have taken me home.”

“Exactly so, Laddie. Once I checked you over good and proper I could tell you were a good ’un. Rough around the edges, but you’ll learn with time.”

Grikkl shifted to a more serious manner. “There’s much more to tell later. But today I have to warn you. You’re returning home soon, so you have to be ready.”

“Ready? For what?” Jeep asked in alarm.

 “There are risks¼ You must become more careful—more watchful for dangers. Once someone knows about what you know, you could become a threat to them.”

“Not me. I’m not a risk to anybody. I’m just a kid. Besides, who¼?”

 “Believe me, there are evil people who want this knowledge to stay lost—forever. To destroy these precious objects and what they stand for. As you learn how to use more binkle power, they’ll notice you. You could be in peril. But until you’re smarter about how to control the full force of binkle energy, you won’t know how to use it for your protection.”

Jeep thought a moment. “Can’t you protect me? Maybe I should stay here with you and Adah...”

“That’s not your answer. Your own power can protect you—once you’ve learned how to listen to it.”

“Then teach me.”

Grikkl sat back and smiled; his wise eyes twinkled, “That has begun, Laddie. Adah and I are already doing all we can to keep you safe, You’re OK for now.”

Grikkl opened a very old wooden chest. He squatted down and rummaged through the lowest drawer. A grunt of satisfaction announced he’d found what he was looking for.

“Catch, Laddie!” He tossed the object at the startled boy.

Jeep snagged it out of the air, then studied it carefully. He held a gold medallion—about 1¼ inches across and worn smooth in places. There was a round hole near the edge, so it could hang. One side showed a hopping rabbit that reminded him of Lulu. On the other was a symbol Jeep didn’t recognize.

“There’s great power in this talisman— made even stronger because of Lulu’s affectionate bond with you. Before you go home, I’ll show you how it works.”

Jeep grinned as he held the ancient charm against his chest. It seemed to pulse with energy. “I can almost feel its magic.”

“Aye, Laddie, that you can, that you can. Now it’s time for us to go.”

Grikkl needed Jeep’s help to carry his manuscripts back through the tunnel. Jeep’s mind was discombobulated by all the strange things he’d seen and heard. So he followed along behind Grikkl and Cerberus like a person in a trance.

Chapter 6—

JEEP DISCOVERS YOU
CAN
GO HOME AGAIN

Grikkl said, “Jeep, you need to know that what you’ve been eating, the faduki, isn’t ordinary food.”

“I’ve figured that out—and I like the way it tastes a lot better.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. It doesn’t just taste different. It changes the way your body works. Adah and I have eaten it for centuries, but you’re not used to it. You’ll start to feel its side effects before long. A steady diet of it probably wouldn’t do you any harm—but it will affect your ears.”

“My ears are fine.”

“Listen, Jeep, you’re not hearing me! I’m trying to tell you something new, something important.”

Just then, Lulu hopped over and rubbed her whole self against Jeep’s leg. He lifted her up and took a moment to stroke her fur against his cheek, before she settled into his arms. Once Jeep returned his attention to Grikkl, he caught an odd expression on the wrinkled face.

“I see. You’re able to hear Lulu far better than you can hear me—since hers is the language of affection. No question Lulu says more to you than I can. She speaks directly to your heart.” Then he added with a laugh, “But don’t be surprised to find she speaks to you in other ways as well.”

During Jeep’s stay, Grikkl would spend most of his time working at the table forever piled high with a constantly changing assortment of books and papers. Grikkl ignored everything else going on, so Jeep and Adah were careful not to distract him. Now and then, Grikkl grunted in annoyance or satisfaction as he combed through them. But other than that he hardly made a sound.

Old books and rolled-up parchments were piled in every unused area of the floor. It was tricky to get around without tripping over them. They were written in a language Jeep didn’t recognize. And the notes Grikkl scribbled used those same cryptic characters.

~~~

As his energy returned, Jeep explored the gnomes’ home. The hollowed-rock cavern was compact, yet didn’t feel crowded—even though it lacked windows or a view. Another smaller room where Grikkl and Adah slept was filled to the ceiling with stacked barrels and crates. Both rooms were made cheerful with colorful cushions and blankets that Adah had knitted herself.

Jeep drew a simple map because making maps was second nature to him.

Since she first sang the mermaid’s song for him, Jeep felt emotionally drawn to be with Adah. For her part, she was quick to hug him close in her wide, welcoming arms. But she was so short the hugs were on the low side—unless he was sitting. He never resisted her spur-of-the-moment warmth.
I missed hugs for too long. At last I’m wanted again.

Sometimes Adah told him amazing tales of long ago, full of dash and excitement. Jeep couldn’t tell whether she was talking about her own experiences or repeating ancient yarns. Although he assumed her stories about fairies, elves, and unicorns had to be made up, Adah spoke of them as if they were personal friends.

Adah spoke in more detail about what Grikkl said in the Chamber. She ended with, “I want to be sure you’ll be ready.”

That word again. I don’t know what I’m getting ready for.
“Ready—for what?”

“You’ll see.”

“That’s not a good enough answer,” he complained. “How in the world am I supposed to get ready when you and Grikkl only talk in riddles?”

“But a riddle’s only perplexing until you figure it out. And you will—I’m sure of it.” She ended with one of her confiding winks that cut off further discussion.

~~~

In the midst of other conversations, Adah dropped in tidbits of binkle advice:

-
         
When you’re not quite sure what to do, just stop and ask yourself, “Do I want a binkle or something else?” Unless you
really
want a binkle you’ll probably just get whatever.