Milli’s initial amazement started to pass and she looked at the soldier with more curiosity than shock, as if some secret theory she had harboured all her life had just been confirmed.
‘Did you…’ Ernest began, and faltered. ‘I’m sure you didn’t just…’
‘Speak up, lad!’ the soldier demanded. ‘What are you jabbering about?’
Both children jumped upon hearing the voice again. There was no denying that it had come from Captain Pluck. They could see his lips moving, and not in an unnatural way but almost as the mouth of a human might move when speaking. In fact, the toy was staring at them as if he found their behaviour quite strange.
‘We beg your pardon…err…Captain Pluck,’ Milli began, realising he was waiting for an answer from them. ‘We don’t mean to be rude, it’s just that we’ve never met a talking toy before. You took us by surprise.’
Now it was the soldier’s turn to look surprised. ‘Never met a toy who could talk?’ he said incredulously. ‘Did you think we were all mute dummies? Surely your own special toys at home have acquired the ability of speech?’
‘Not as yet,’ Milli answered.
‘Slow developers then,’ said Captain Pluck, shaking his head. ‘Perhaps you haven’t provided them with sufficient stimulation.’ He became suddenly thoughtful as he eyed the children up and down. ‘How did you come to be loitering outside the arcade on your own?’
Ernest didn’t like his suspicious tone. ‘We were left behind by accident when we went to investigate an SOS,’ he said.
The soldier brightened suddenly. ‘An SOS? Why didn’t you say so! You had better come and meet the others.’
‘The others?’ echoed Ernest but the soldier was no longer listening.
‘Hurry along and follow me now. There’s no time to lose.’
Captain Pluck turned on his heel and marched off down the passageway ahead, which was rather narrow and more like a tunnel. Milli and Ernest hesitated a moment. They had no doubt that their absence would soon be noticed and the school bus (carrying a distraught Mildew Macaw) would return to collect them. But that might take a little time—perhaps, if they hurried, just enough time to follow this extraordinary little toy and learn more about the inhabitants of the arcade.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Toys Underground
The tunnel wasn’t designed to accommodate children and Milli and Ernest had to walk with bowed heads. It was just as well Milli had routinely fed her vegetables to a not-so-finicky Stench at dinner, or she might well have grown too big to get through.
After several minutes of travelling along the cramped passageway, the toy soldier looked up at the children. ‘Is everything all right, Miss? Not too uncomfortable, I hope?’
It took Milli a moment to realise he was speaking to her. He reached up to guide her with his tiny wooden hand. ‘Just say the word and I shall carry you all the way! I know the underground is not an easy place for a young lady. Let me know if you need to rest.’
When, minutes later, a thud followed by a yelp indicated that Ernest had hit his head on the roof of the tunnel, Captain Pluck was less sympathetic. ‘Try to keep your wits about you, man,’ he called out, without so much as a backward glance. ‘The enemy can come at you anytime and from anywhere.’
After what seemed like a long time of semi-stumbling in the dark, they emerged into an underground chamber. Finally they were able to stand up and stretch their stiff necks. They looked around. There were some faded maps taped to one wall and a couple of camp beds. On a bench stood what looked like a radio with wires hanging in a tangle from its sides, and an old-fashioned spyglass. There was also a round table with four low stools. On one of these sat a gruff-looking teddy bear wearing a bandana. On another was propped the most beautiful ballerina doll they had ever laid eyes on.
It was the doll who spoke first. She leapt from her stool and, balancing on the tips of her shoes, whirled over to the newcomers at such speed that her tutu resembled the blades of a blender in action. Up close the children could see that her ballet slippers were embroidered with stars and cream ribbons curled their way up her shapely legs. Her curly golden mane was swept up into an elaborate knot at the nape of her neck and studded with pink and white rosebuds. Some curls had escaped and hung rather limply on her cheek. A glittering tiara sat atop the concoction of curls. Her wide eyes were as deep and as blue as the ocean. She had petite features and very long lashes that swept her cheeks when she blinked. She fluttered them now as she approached the children. Milli noticed that the tulle of her tutu was looking a bit on the crumpled side, her tiara was crooked and her leotard had a streak of mud down one side.
‘My name is Pascal,’ the doll announced importantly. ‘Did you by any chance happen to bring a mirror with you?’
‘No, we didn’t,’ said Milli, thinking it a very strange question. ‘Seeing as we didn’t plan on coming at all.’
‘What about a comb?’ Pascal said, looking hopefully at Ernest’s backpack.
‘That I am never without,’ said Ernest, eager to oblige.
Pascal took Ernest’s oversized comb, which looked like a rake in her hands, and her face fell. ‘My hair is a disaster—full of knots.’
‘Perhaps I could help?’ suggested Ernest.
‘Oh, would you? I would be ever so grateful. Did you notice that my nail varnish has chipped? Tell me the truth—you did notice, didn’t you?’ Pascal dropped the comb, put her face in her hands and burst into a flood of tears.
Milli and Ernest didn’t know quite how to react but the burly teddy bear seemed accustomed to such outbursts.
‘Now, now, Pascal,’ he chided gently. ‘Let’s not alarm our visitors before we have even had a chance to be properly introduced.’ On two feet, the bear was the largest teddy the children had ever come across, reaching well above their knees. He patted Pascal paternally on the head whilst watching the children intently. ‘Pascal has had the hardest time adapting to life underground,’ he explained. ‘Her previous home was a French chateau, specially designed for her, full of mirrors and an extensive wardrobe. She misses her old life.’
‘I wasn’t made to be a soldier!’ the doll wailed.
Milli thought she seemed a very shallow and selfish sort of character even though the bear was clearly sorry for her.
The bear introduced himself as Theo. Up close they could see that he was a rich amber colour, with eyes to match, although some patches of fur on his arms looked a little frayed. The black bandana around his forehead was fastened in a knot at the back. He wore a battered leather jacket and a pair of sandshoes. Somewhere along the way he seemed to have done away with his pants, but was totally unself-conscious about it and retained an innate dignity. In fact, he had a streetwise look about him and if he were human he’d probably have been a bouncer or a musician in a jazz band. He clearly had some authority within the group because Pascal fell silent at his touch. She sniffed back her tears and tried to look stoic but only succeeded in looking up at Theo like a petulant child who is making an effort to be good. The bear turned his attention to the children.
‘Where did you come from?’ he asked.
Seeing that the children hadn’t sufficiently recovered from their surprise to reply, Captain Pluck answered on their behalf.
‘Castaways,’ he whispered, ‘from the excursion.’
‘Ah, the excursion,’ Theo said. ‘We’ve been hoping to meet you. It’s Milli and Ernest, isn’t it?’
‘How do you know that?’ asked a baffled Ernest.
‘Let’s just say your reputation has preceded you. We,’ he made a sweeping gesture with his arm—‘are the Resistance.’
‘What’s a resistance?’ Milli asked innocently.
‘You’ll have to forgive my friend,’ Ernest cut in, frowning at Milli. ‘She never pays enough attention in History. I know that a resistance is a secret organisation set up to oppose an enemy occupation.’
Theo smiled. ‘You do pay attention, I see.’
‘T
he question is, whom or what are you resisting?’
Ernest’s little speech may have annoyed Milli, but Theo broke into a roar of laughter and extended a furry paw to shake Ernest’s hand.
‘Someone with your thinking is going to be immensely useful to us. But tell me, how did you come to be left behind?’
‘We think a doll in one of the displays tried to send Ernest a message,’ Milli replied, anxious not to be completely excluded from the conversation. ‘He saw help us written in the snow but we don’t know who wrote it or why.’
The bear nodded. ‘I was afraid it was a long shot, but we had to try everything to get your attention. Thankfully, you have proved as observant as I had hoped.’
‘It was intended for us,’ said Ernest, still struggling to get things clear in his head. ‘I knew it!’
‘Of course,’ the bear rumbled. ‘We are in desperate need of friends.’
‘Perhaps you could explain to us what’s going on?’ asked Milli politely. ‘We are, as Ernest would say, a tad confused.’
‘And we don’t have much time,’ Ernest thought it wise to add, ‘before the bus comes back to collect us.’
‘Please sit down,’ said Theo, ‘and I’ll try to be as brief as I can. Afterwards, you can decide whether you wish to be of assistance or not.’
The bear sat down on his stool, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he considered how to make his explanation as succinct as possible.
‘It is not possible to tell you everything right now,’ he began, ‘so I’ll try to focus on the important bits. The three of us have been friends for a long time. We formed part of our maker’s special collection. The first thing I imagine you’re wondering is why we can use speech whilst others can’t?’
The children nodded encouragingly.
‘Well, that part is not so easy to explain. I could say it was due to magic, but that wouldn’t be quite correct, although magic has no doubt played a part in it, just not the magic you are accustomed to. No, it is more the magic of creative endeavour. When Von Gobstopper created us, he imbued each of us with a specific identity and human qualities. As toys are Von Gobstopper’s only companions, he creates them to resemble humans—not in appearance but in personality.’
‘Does this mean all Von Gobstopper’s toys can speak?’ Milli asked breathlessly.
‘I doubt it, although we think they may have the capacity to learn. We were fortunate enough to form part of Von Gobstopper’s inner circle and our creator certainly has a taste for debate.’ The bear paused and chuckled, clearly enjoying some private reminiscence. ‘Eventually, we learned to answer him when he posed philosophical questions. He was delighted with his achievement, of course. We all became firm friends.’
‘How do you explain the message in the display?’ Milli interrupted.
‘Gwendolyn is special, and far too accomplished to spend her life as a prop in a display,’ Theo muttered in anger. ‘Sadly, she became trapped in a glass enclosure with companions she cannot communicate with. Hopefully, it will not be forever.’
‘We’ve read that Mr Von Gobstopper is now a recluse,’ commented Ernest, keen to keep the discussion from straying.
‘Recluse!’ snorted Captain Pluck. ‘Is that what they call it? Hostage, more like!’
‘Calm down, Pluck,’ said Theo. ‘We’re still trying to determine what happened to him.’ He turned back to the children. ‘We travelled here by coach, a whole party of us, including Von Gobstopper and a number of his staff, for the opening of the arcade. But on the way we were intercepted and Von Gobstopper has not been seen since.’
‘So how come you’re living down here?’ Milli asked.
‘We are not living here,’ the bear corrected her kindly, ‘we are in hiding. The worst part is that we don’t know exactly what we are hiding from. The arcade has been taken over. We escaped as soon as we suspected something was wrong—before we could be locked away as part of an exhibit.’
‘What makes you think anything is wrong at all?’ said Ernest. ‘Is it possible that Mr Von Gobstopper has just gone home and put others in charge of running the arcade?’
‘That would be an entirely plausible conclusion if we didn’t know Mr Von Gobstopper better,’ Theo reflected.
‘He would never abandon us!’ Captain Pluck said indignantly.
‘Something is very wrong,’ added Pascal, tearing up again.
Theo gave the children a serious look. ‘We’re hoping you’ll help us determine what that something is.’
They were interrupted by the crunch of wheels on gravel, audible even in the Resistance’s underground headquarters.
‘The bus!’ exclaimed Ernest.
‘Captain Pluck will escort you out,’ Theo announced. ‘We don’t want to cause you any more trouble. Please come and see us again soon if you can.’
‘How do we let you know we’re coming?’
‘There’s no need. We’ll know when you get here. Wait at the opening in the wall and use the password.’
‘But we don’t know the password,’ Milli said.
‘Of course you don’t; how remiss of me. It’s Peppered Pancakes.’
Ernest had already shouldered his pack, keen to return to the driveway and the bus in the hope that a rapid return might lessen the scolding they were bound to receive from Miss Macaw. Milli, however, the more instinctive of the pair, sensed there was something the toys were holding back.
‘Is there anything else you can tell us?’ she asked. ‘Anything else not quite right?’
‘There is one thing,’ the bear said hesitantly. He stole a glance at the others to ensure he had their approval to proceed. They gave almost imperceptible nods.
‘On three occasions now there has been what we call a “round-up” in the arcade,’ he told them, ‘during which certain toys are taken down to the basement for repairs. Perhaps five or six at a time.’
‘What’s strange about that?’ asked Ernest. ‘Toys must need maintenance.’
Theo fixed him with a grim look.
‘That is true, Ernest, we do. Only in these instances not a single toy taken for maintenance has ever come back.’
CHAPTER NINE
A Bond is Forged
When Milli awoke safe and sound in her own bed the next morning, she wondered what was causing the feeling of unease in the pit of her stomach. Then she remembered the events of the day before. Luckily, Miss Macaw had been too relieved that they hadn’t been dismembered by Boi Toi or abducted by stuffed jungle animals to ask many questions. Milli and Ernest had simply invented a story about wandering off to take more detailed notes and losing track of time, and everyone believed them. It sounded just like something the conscientious Ernest would do. Besides, no one could imagine deliberately staying behind to risk incurring the wrath of the venomous Ms Anomali. At times during the tour, the curator’s expression had suggested that nothing would give her more satisfaction than to see the visitors pickled in a jar.
Milli and Ernest had agreed with Theo not to publicise their meeting and they fended off the queries from the other students, eager to hear what they had got up to. Both children were equally reticent when they returned home. They remained so all through dinner, which surprised their parents who had expected them to be brimming with stories about the arcade.
‘Too much glitz and not much substance,’ was Ernest’s rather dismissive report.
Mr and Mrs Perriclof attributed their first-born’s non-communication to him entering the uncharted waters of adolescence, something they had long been dreading. They had been warned by well-meaning friends that Ernest’s conversation would soon be reduced to a series of incomprehensible grunts. Change of any sort was not well received in the Perriclof household. Mrs Perriclof’s solution (as it was for most of life’s tricky situations) was to increase Ernest’s Vitamin B intake and rush him off to a yoga class.
Mrs Klompet, on the other hand, simply concluded that as Milli was so quiet she must be over-tired or coming down with some
thing and advised an early night. Only Dorkus realised that her sister was neither ill nor tired. She had noticed Milli chewing compulsively on her lower lip; something she only ever did when she was hatching a devious plan or pondering a matter of the utmost importance.
Saturday turned out to be busy for both Milli and Ernest and they didn’t find an opportunity to meet to discuss the events at the arcade. Ernest was flat out with rehearsals for Macbeth despite the paucity of his lines, and Milli had agreed to help her ever-inventive father trial a new pre-mixed Christmas pudding that, instead of the usual ingredients, contained pistachios and pumpkin. On Sunday afternoon it rained steadily and both the Klompets and the Perriclofs insisted their children stay indoors. Milli divided her time between checking the weather and playing a game of Hide and Seek with Stench as no one was willing to brave the rain to take him for his walk. You had to feel sorry for him, lying with his nose between his paws by the door and looking up hopefully every time someone walked past. The game involved a member of the family (usually Dorkus) covering Stench’s eyes with her hands as she counted to ten. Then Dorkus would remove her hands and give the instruction, ‘Find Milli!’ Stench sprang into action and did a perfunctory lap of whatever room he happened to be in before bounding off to look for Milli. He always found her inside of sixty seconds, either behind the shower curtain, curled inside the blanket box or behind one of the coats hanging from the hall stand.
‘Ten seconds,’ announced Dorkus, checking her watch.
‘Shame there isn’t a Guinness Book of Records for animals,’ said Milli as she rewarded the dog with a scratch behind his woolly ears. ‘Or you’d be famous.’
When Monday came and the children sat on the school bus they felt quite disappointed with themselves for having achieved so little. Milli proposed that they return to the arcade after school that afternoon to find out more and see how the toys were faring, but Ernest wasn’t convinced. He argued that there was little sense in acting rashly; what they really needed was time to think things through. They were supervised carefully at school and no one was at liberty to wander off willy-nilly. Getting caught breaking the rules was a different matter now that they were in senior school. He felt certain that those in authority would be less forgiving now, and any misdemeanours could have damaging consequences. Perhaps even lead to the loss of future positions of responsibility.