Circle of Summer

  Chapter 7. Interlude by the Pool

  The trees reached up into the sky, higher than the children could see. Their bark was silvery and swirled with soft patterns and their long slender branches were covered in silvery green leaves. The branches spread to form a roof over the children’s heads and they rustled and whispered even though there was no wind.

  It was warm underneath the trees and the children felt very thirsty after their walk through the swamp. Paul found the pool first. It was beside the base of one of the trees and was full of bright green weed, waving in the crystal depths.

  ‘I’m thirsty,’ he said hopefully, looking at Mark.

  ‘I’d like a drink too. Is the water safe, do you suppose?’ Sharon asked Mark.

  ‘It doesn’t look too good,’ replied Mark doubtfully. ‘We would be better to eat another chocolate each. They seem to stop us being hungry and thirsty.’ He held out his hand and Paul shared out the chocolates. Paul was worried to see that there were only three chocolates left now.

  ‘Can we have a rest here for a while?’ he asked Mark hopefully.

  ‘I don’t see why not. We have lost so much time already a bit more won’t hurt.’

  Mark stretched out in the cool grass beneath the trees and wriggled to find a comfortable spot. He closed his eyes as he felt the tension drain from his aching legs. Sharon and Paul lay down beside him and soon all three of them were sound asleep.

  Sharon had a very strange dream. She dreamed she was back by the river they had crossed that morning. A bright moon was shining and the water gleamed in the silver light. Floating on the river by her feet was a golden boat, decorated with strange carvings of twisted vines and flowers. Sharon stepped into the boat and sat down.

  There were no oars, but as soon as Sharon sat down the boat began to move. It floated silently along the water, following the path made by the moonlight. The boat began to glide faster and faster, and sent out myriads of ripples as it rushed past the banks of the river. Sharon caught a brief glimpse of Aylwin the wizard frowning from the bank, with Caleb beside him. She saw Paul and Mark, who seemed to be calling to her. She could not hear the words so she waved happily to them as she glided past.

  The boat travelled faster and faster and with a gasp Sharon realised that it had left the water and was sliding up the moonbeam path into the star sprinkled sky. The boat sailed along at a speed that made her dizzy. She passed small patches of ragged clouds as she headed higher and higher. Soon she was passing over a sparkling band of stars that arched across the sky. As she came closer to the stars Sharon could hear them singing. It was the most wonderful music she had ever heard. It made her want to laugh and cry, and to dance and sing, all at the same time. She felt it tearing her apart and could not bear the beauty of it. She found herself singing along although she didn’t know any of the words. The tune became slower and more melancholy and grew fainter. Sharon felt tears running down her cheeks as the music slowly died away. She wanted to stay there and sing forever. She felt that nothing in the world could compare with the magnificence of that moment.

  The boat sailed on and now the moonlight slowly faded. . Sharon saw shreds of mist in gossamer strands whirl past her, as the sky grew darker. There was a huge silver cobweb stretched out across the night sky. High up at the outmost corner of the web was a dark shape. Two green eyes glowed menacingly as the shape began to decend the web.

  Sharon screamed as the boat glided slowly into the centre of the web then stopped. She was frightened. The air was dark and cold and she felt trapped and vulnerable as the dark shape approached closer and closer. She watched with horror as the cobweb swayed to pluck her from the boat, then she began to scream. The cobweb wrapped her in strong ropes of ice as she screamed and screamed, again and again. The dark shape was coming closer now, and Sharon could see rows of gleaming yellow teeth as the creature advanced. She pushed madly with her hands at the strands that bound her, and kicked her feet desperately in the air.

  Sharon gave a last despairing struggle and found that instead of a cobweb she was pushing at her cloak, which had wrapped itself around her as she slept.

  Paul and Mark were woken by Sharon’s screams. They lay dazed, wondering where they were. When they saw the trees arching above them, memory slowly returned.

  Mark stretched and yawned.

  ‘I am going to paddle in that pool,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to drink the water,’ he reassured Sharon who began to object to this idea.

  ‘Me too, it’s so hot here.’ Paul trotted over to join his brother. Lazily they splashed themselves with water from the pool and lay on the edge with their feet dangling in the water. Sharon shivered from time to time, remembering her nightmare, but the warmth and peaceful silence soon soothed her.

  ‘Let’s have a chocolate,’ suggested Paul hopefully.

  ‘There are not many left, oh well, what does it matter,’ said Mark dreamily. ‘What does anything matter.’ The chocolates made them feel wonderfully full and Paul curled up with a contented sigh and fell asleep again. Sharon leaned back against one of the trees. The leaves whispered softly and a shimmering haze came from the pool.

  ‘It’s so quiet,’ she murmured as her eyes closed.

  Mark decided to wash the sticky chocolate from his hands, he idly leaned on one elbow to trail a hand in the clear water. His arm felt as heavy as lead and his head was drooping. He jerked upright with an effort as he gazed into the pool. Instead of his own reflection he saw Aylwin’s face and the wizard looked extremely angry. Mark jumped and looked over his shoulder but there was no one there.

  ‘Paul, Sharon, wake up.’ he shook Paul by the shoulder. ‘Hurry up,’ he insisted and poked Sharon in the leg.

  ‘Leave me alone,’ mumbled Sharon, ‘I want to sleep.’

  Mark was worried. Why was it so warm under the trees when the branches were blocking out the sun?

  ‘Come on, you have to wake up.’ Frantically he dragged at Sharon’s arm and lifted Paul onto his shoulder. ‘Come on. We have to get out of here.’

  Mark staggered as he carried Paul out from under the trees, with Sharon stumbling sleepily beside him. He turned to walk in the direction of the black rock.

  At first Sharon followed like a sleepwalker but soon she started to wake.

  ‘What happened?’ she asked, sounding more alert. Paul opened his eyes and insisted on being put down.

  ‘Why didn’t you let me sleep?’ he demanded indignantly.

  ‘I think that place was enchanted,’ replied Mark grimly. ‘We would have slept there forever.’

  ‘We forgot about the flowers, and helping Aylwin,’ said Sharon in horror.

  ‘Well, we are awake now so we’d better make the best of it,’ said Mark and the children

  marched on in silence.