On the Run

As their laughter subsided the children became aware of how thirsty they were. They escaped the palace with the clothes on their backs and the contents of their pockets – no water or food. Lady Aubergine had long ago emptied the twins’ cheese tin, and for all their thoughts of escape they had not filled it with anything else. They pushed on through the woods, hoping to find a valley on the other side. The lowest land usually had springs bubbling through it, and they could find water at least. Food would have to wait until morning.

It was getting late. The sky darkened purple and shadows deepened amongst the trees. Adolphus scooped Bettina up to ride piggy-back and they picked up their pace. Fear overrode exhaustion and they trotted through the murky wood. The land sloped downward and they hoped the forest would end. They forged ahead through the gloom, racing sunset.

“I think we’re out of it,” Gerhardt said, peering ahead. “I think it’s clear up ahead.”

“We’ll never find a spring in the dark,” Annabelle said.

“Still have your torch?” Adolphus asked.

“The cloth’s burned away. I’ll need another handkerchief.”

“Let’s get in the open first,” Claire said. “Don’t stop.”

Mirabelle screamed. “It’s got me – the vine!”

“Torch!”

“Can’t. She’s got the engine cleaner!”

A scrape and a flare as Bettina lit a match. Mirabelle’s pale face glowed through the darkness three yards away. As the match sputtered out Bettina lit her last firecracker with it and threw.

BAM!

The explosion flared yellow. Adolphus leaped after it, dragging Mirabelle back out of the questing, carnivorous vine. They huddled together, recovering, until Claire broke the silence.

“I have a handkerchief.”

They cobbled together another torch with the last of the Boiler Chief’s engine cleaner.

Adolphus took it and led the way out of the forest. The sky was fully dark by the time they found their way out. Adolphus walked slowly into the field, testing the ground for soft (and hopefully wet) spots, but the dirt under the tall grass was as firm as the forest. The children stumbled around the field, parched and dispirited, until they heard a rumbling sound.

The twins drew together. “Not thunder,” Mirabelle said.

“No.” Annabelle closed her eyes in concentration. “Wheels.”

The brilliant thing about a torch is that it lights the immediate vicinity brightly and well. The unfortunate side effect is that it blinds you to everything outside its dazzling circle of light. The rumbling came towards them, loud and fast.

“Put it out!” Claire cried.

“Too late,” Adolphus said. “Whatever it is has seen us, and I’m not loosing my only weapon.”