The Underground City (15 page)

Neil and Clara shivered violently as they recovered from their surprise at Kalman's hex and opened their eyes. The warmth of the blazing spotlights in the theatre had vanished the minute the prince had grasped their arms and now they found
themselves
in freezing blackness.

Neil sensed that the prince was still with them. “Where are we?” he asked, his voice echoing strangely.

“You are where no one will ever find you,” Kalman said, his voice casual and cruel.

Clara put out her hand and drew it back swiftly as she touched a rocky wall that wasn't only icy cold but ran with moisture. Were they in a cave, perhaps?

At that moment, Kalman hexed up a couple of burning torches and stuck them into cracks in the wall. They looked round in wonder at their prison as the flaring flames flickered and glowed. It was, as they had suspected, a cave; a big cave with a towering ceiling that disappeared into gloomy darkness over their heads. The openings of tunnels were outlined against the surrounding walls but on the far side, a stretch of water rippled and lapped against the cave's rocky shelf.

Even as they looked, the ripples surged and splashed as a huge head broke the surface and a monster reared its long neck up out of the waves. Its face had a sly, predatory look and its scaly skin was a blackish, grey colour mottled by patches of livid green. Neil and Clara clutched at one another in horror mixed with sudden understanding, and knew instantly where they were. They had seen this particular monster before and
they hadn't much liked her then, either.

“Nessie!” Clara mouthed at Neil.

“The Loch Ness Monster!” he whispered in awe as more and more of the enormous beast appeared, dwarfing the cave with her size. They clung together, shivering with cold and fright. No wonder Kalman was so sure they'd never be found! These must be Nessie's caves, hundreds of feet under the mountains!

The monster dragged her great bulk out of the water, sending waves surging in powerful ripples across the floor until she finally managed to heave herself onto the rocky platform.

“Prince Kalman!” she sounded surprised and more than a little suspicious. “What brings you here?”

“Am I not welcome, then?” the prince said with a low bow. “Grechan always speaks well of you and I have come to ask you a favour, milady.”

The monster didn't exactly preen herself but, Neil thought shrewdly, the prince certainly knew how to handle her.

“A favour, is it? Well, what do you wish of me, Kalman?” Then she saw Neil and Clara. “Who are those children?” she demanded.

Neil and Clara moved forward. “Bow!” Neil muttered, as he bent at the waist. “Go on, Clara, as low as you can!”

Kalman looked at them sourly. “Two children that I want to hide from the eyes of Sulaiman the Red.”

“The Sultan?” Nessie said, impressed. She eyed them interestedly. “But they're surely too young to pose a threat to you?”

“They've meddled in my plans and need punishing,” he said. “I'd be glad if you'd keep them here until Grechan arrives. Then,
he
can take charge of them. They'll be no bother. Feed them sparingly and they'll behave!”

Neil's heart sank at his words. This didn't sound too good!

Nessie moved towards them and so awed were they at her towering bulk that they failed to notice the arrival of several
other strange creatures that had bobbed to the surface of the water in her wake. The mention of Grechan should have warned them that they'd be around and as the grey, shiny little creatures hoisted themselves effortlessly into the cave, Neil nudged Clara. Their noses wrinkled at the musty smell that emanated from them. Both knew immediately what they were — water goblins!

Attracted by the shining colours of their Ali Baba costumes that glowed brightly in the light of the torches, the water
goblins
flapped forward on webbed feet, their red eyes gleaming in their dome-like heads. They crowded round, fascinated by the glittering silk of their costumes and as their long fingers stretched out curiously, Neil and Clara shrank away from them. Nessie, however, saw what was happening and as her tail lashed threateningly, the goblins immediately backed off, looking resentful.

Nessie stared at Neil and Clara thoughtfully. “Do you know, Prince Kalman,” she said, her expression suddenly turning very unpleasant indeed, “I think I recognise these children.” Her huge head on its long neck bent over Neil. “You know the MacArthurs, don't you?” she hissed. “Weren't you both with Lady Ellan when she brought my Arthur to Loch Ness?”

They cowered back, nodding, too scared to speak.

“And you know that my Arthur came here and then left without even saying goodbye to me and quite broke my heart,” she said, her voice rising. “I'll never forgive him, never!” Her tail lashed the floor of the cave angrily, sweeping several unwary goblins into the water. “And, let me tell you,” her voice lowered threateningly, “that if you're his friends, I've a good mind to keep you here for ever and ever!”

She was so furious that, had she been a dragon, she'd
probably
have burnt them to a cinder there and then. As it was, she looked so fearsome that Neil and Clara took to their heels and
ran, helter-skelter, into the first tunnel they came to.

Nessie frowned as Prince Kalman made no attempt to stop them.

Now Nessie had her moods and although she was quick to lose her temper she was equally quick in making up — but Neil and Clara, she suddenly realized, weren't to know this and now that they'd run off into the tunnels, she looked after them apprehensively, wishing that she hadn't been quite so dramatic.

“Leave them,” Kalman shrugged, his voice casual. “With any luck they'll get lost in the tunnels and we'll never hear of them again.” He bowed mockingly to Nessie. “If they
do
turn up, you can give them to Grechan. If they don't … well, give him my regards, anyway. Tell him I'll be back soon!”

And with that, Kalman muttered a hex and promptly
disappeared
.

“Stop, Clara,” Neil gasped, his lungs bursting. “Stop! We’ve run far enough and nobody’s chasing us.”

Clara leant against the wall of the tunnel, clutching her side. She had a stitch and her breath was coming in great gasps. Never in her life had she felt so scared.

“Where are you, Neil?” she panted. “I can’t see you. It’s so dark and …” she shivered, “I’m freezing cold.”

Neil walked towards the sound of her voice. “I can’t help it,” she said, her teeth chattering. “It’s just fright that’s making me all shivery.”

What they needed, Neil thought, was some warmer clothes for the thin, silky stuff of their pantomime costume was no protection whatsoever against the freezing draught that edged sharply along the tunnel.

“I think we should go back,” Neil said, “while we remember the way.”

“No! How can you even think about it? Nessie’s horrible!!”

“She can’t be all that bad if Arthur likes her. And he does, you know.”

“Well …” she sounded doubtful.

“We’ll freeze if we don’t keep moving,” Neil insisted, “and if we go any further, we might get lost.” So, arms outstretched, they made their way back the way they had come. At least they thought they did. It was only much later when they’d stumbled along for a good half hour that Neil called a halt. “We must have missed a turning,” he admitted, anxiously. “We didn’t run from Nessie for more than a few minutes. We’re
lost, Clara!”

“Shhhh!” Clara grabbed Neil’s arm. “I can hear something! Listen …”

It was a strange flapping noise and it was coming closer. Clara stuffed her knuckles in her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

“Are you there?” a voice whispered. They heard it in their heads, in much the same way as they heard Kitor and Amgarad.

Neil relaxed thankfully for it didn’t sound like a terribly fierce voice. “Yes, we’re here,” he answered, guessing that the flapping noise was the sound of webbed feet. “Who are you? Are you a water goblin?”

“Yes, my name is Kabad. I … I thought you might be lost.”

“We are,” Neil answered. “Thank goodness you came to look for us! Was it Nessie that sent you? Or the prince?”

“No, I came on my own. I was Arthur’s friend when he was here, you see. I liked him and he told me lots of stories about the MacArthurs and Archie and Arthur’s Seat.”

Knowing that Arthur would never have chatted about Archie and the MacArthurs to anyone he didn’t like, reassured Clara. “I think he really wants to help us, Neil,” she whispered.

Neil nodded and although Clara couldn’t see him, she sensed that he agreed with her. “Kabad, we want to speak to Nessie about Arthur but she was so angry with us that we’re a bit afraid.”

Kabad sounded doubtful. “She’ll probably be all right when she calms down.”

“You see, Nessie doesn’t really understand why Arthur left. He was homesick for the hill, worried about his treasure and … oh, lots of other things. I’m sure he wants to come back and see her but I think he’s afraid she might be angry. Could you tell her that?”

There was a silence. “Nessie sometimes eats goblins when
she is hungry, or if they make her angry,” Kabad said fearfully.

“Kabad,” Clara said, remembering the goblins’ fascination for their clothes, “if you do what Neil asks then I’ll … I’ll give you my shiny clothes.”

Kabad hissed as he thought of the clothes. Never, in his whole life, had he seen such wonderful things and his heart swelled at the thought of owning them. Of course, he told
himself
, he would never be able to wear them except in secret, for the other goblins would be jealous and take them from him but … but perhaps he could hide them somewhere safe and take them out to look at from time to time …

Clara felt sorry for the little creature, understanding how much he was tempted. She remembered how she’d felt when she’d first tried on the costume in the dressing room in the Assembly Hall; how excited she’d been when the silk glinted and glittered in the lights.

“I’ll do it,” Kabad said.

“We’ll follow you back through the tunnels, then,” Neil said in relief. “We’re totally lost!”

Kabad’s webbed fingers gripped Neil’s hand and Clara held onto the back of his tunic as they made their way back through the darkness of the tunnels to the main cavern where the torches still burned.

“You’d better stay here just now,” Kabad said, his voice shaky as he steeled himself to talk to the Great Lady.

Peering out from the entrance to the tunnel, they watched as Kabad make his way through a scattered crowd of water
goblins
towards Nessie. He bowed low to her and Clara crossed her fingers as the surprised goblins crowded round to hear what was going on. Kabad spoke to Nessie at length but from what they could see, she didn’t seem terribly impressed.

“I hope he hasn’t blown it,” Neil groaned.

At that moment, one of the water goblins in the crowd made
what was to prove an unfortunate remark about Arthur.

In an instant, Nessie’s expression changed to one of utter fury, and the cackle of evil laughter that had echoed round the cave, quickly died away as the wary goblins realized that they’d overstepped the mark by a couple of miles. Roaring with rage, her tail lashing furiously, she cleared the cave of goblins in
seconds
. Only Kabad stood his ground and once she had calmed down, Nessie listened to him more carefully.

Minutes later he ran up, smiling his funny, goblin smile. “It’s all right,” he assured them. “Nessie says she didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Neil took a deep breath. “I think it’s okay, Clara,” he said. “Anyhow, we’ll just have to chance it.”

“Well,” Nessie said, looking at them grimly as they came towards her. “I don’t know what you’ve been up to but you seem to have made a bad enemy of the prince.”

Neil and Clara nodded.

“It’s not my business,” she continued. “It’s for you to sort things out with Kalman. But what’s this that Kabad’s been
telling
me about Arthur?”

“You really mustn’t be angry with Arthur,” said Neil, “I’m sure he likes you, but after the way he left, I think he’s maybe afraid to come back to see you.”

“He was worried at leaving his treasure,” interrupted Clara. “While he was here the last time, someone stole his firestones and Lord Rothlan and his army got into the hill … into Arthur’s Seat.”

“Hmmm!” Nessie said thoughtfully. “Yes, I heard about that.”

“And he was homesick, too. He’s lived with the MacArthurs for hundreds of years, you know, and … well, he missed them!”

“But he had
me!
” snorted Nessie, rearing majestically and looking thoroughly put out. “Wasn’t that enough?”

“Yes, of course,” Clara said hurriedly, “but you’re not always
here, are you?” she pointed out. “You spend a lot of time out in the loch finding fish to eat.”

“The thing is,” Neil said, “that Arthur doesn’t like fish much and …”

“And some of your water goblins weren’t very nice to him …” Clara added, her fingers crossed behind her back.

“All sorts of things worried him, milady, especially his
treasure
but he didn’t want to mention it to you.”

“He should have done!” Nessie said, sitting up straight.

“He’s really very fond of you,” Neil said.

“The dear creature!” Nessie murmured, “is he really?”

“Yes, of course he is,” smiled Clara. “I’m sure he’d like to visit you again but …”

“But what?” demanded Nessie.

“If you could give him a sign, he’d come at once! To visit you, you know … and it would be nice for us to see him again, too. Why, we could keep one another company while you were out fishing.”

“But Grechan will be here soon to take you to his caves,” Nessie said, “and Prince Kalman wants to hide you from the Sultan!”

“But not from the MacArthurs, milady,” Neil said. “The
decision
is up to you, though. Wouldn’t you like to see Arthur again and let him explain things for himself?”

Now Nessie was genuinely fond of Arthur and the thought of seeing him again set her heart beating fast. “But how can I get in touch with him?” she asked despairingly. “How can I tell him that I want to see him again?”

Neil unwound the length of striped silk that served as his turban. “If you swim round Loch Ness waving this,” he said, “someone would be sure to see it. You’re really famous in Scotland, you know. The television cameras would be there, everyone would be watching you. You’d be on TV!”

Nessie had been bored for too long to turn down such an inviting suggestion. She’d no idea what
teevee
was, but it was obviously something wonderful. “I’ll do it!” she said decisively. “Give me the flag!”

“It’s no good going just now, Nessie,” Clara said. “It’s night time and it’ll still be dark outside.”

“Yes,” agreed Neil. “No one will be able to see you until tomorrow morning when the sun comes up.”

“Oh, that’s not a problem,” Nessie said, casually. “I can make today into tomorrow quite easily.”

Clara felt a spinning sensation and looked at Neil who shook his head dizzily.

“There,” Nessie said comfortably, “that’s that done. Now, Neil, give me the flag and I’ll be off! I can’t
wait
to see my Arthur again!”

Neil handed her the strip of purple and gold silk and they watched in relief as without any further ado, she grasped it in her mouth, slid off the rocky shelf and disappeared below the waves.