Finding a Way (5) - Setting Out

When Xenophon Treefellow contacted us to let us know preparations were completed for the expedition to enter Tall Tree Forest, Cecile was conflicted.

 

"I want to go with you," she said, "but I'm thinking of the children. I know the expedition is supposed to be safe but should we be wrong..."

"We don't have to go."

"I know. But now they're relying on you..." She sighed. "I suppose I wouldn't be able to contribute much. I should stay. If you don't mind?"

I hugged her. "The Treefellows clearly know what they're doing. They've not rushed into this without thinking. I feel more confident after visiting Xenophon a few days ago. I told you how he let me familiarise myself with the crystal, playing with it to locate the energy in his medallion, but I didn't go into details about the plans he'd made since our last meeting. I have no doubt he's continued to do so, organising everything in precise detail. He's arranged for transportation and everything."

"I suppose so." She kissed my cheek and pulled away. "Tomorrow morning, then."

o 0 O 0 o

The transportation was a small van, property of Ricardo Porcini. He smiled as I approached. 

"Jackson. I'm glad to hear that you might be able to forge a new path to Chunglewood. It was worrying when the old one became unpassable. It was always a twisty way through the trees but at least I could get to my people."

 

"I hope I can. It's by no means certain, you know. I don't want you to raise your hopes too high."

"Oh, I know. Xenophon explained. But you have to hope, don't you?"

Xenophon emerged from the van. "Hello, Jackson. Just a few introductions and we can be on our way. Ricardo is, I suppose, a sort of ambassador. Assuming we get through the forest and into the clearing, we don't want to startle the villagers when we appear in an unexpected place."

"They're not used to complete strangers," said Ricardo. "I can vouch for you. "

"Are you anticipating trouble, Xenophon?" I asked, more to put Cecile's mind at rest. She was watching the exchange.

"Not at all. I'm simply making sure our first contact is as smooth as possible." He beckoned the other passengers out of the van. I recognised them instantly. I had assumed that his team wouldn't be local but they were fellow villagers.

"Hi Jackson," said Delvin McBurrows. "I'm here because there may be some digging involved." Delvin, like the rest of his mole family, were at ease both above and below ground. Whether pits or tunnels were involved, the McBurrows were the ones to call.

Next to greet me was Rolf Billabong. "And I'm here to do clay work. G'day Jackson."

 

I was intrigued. Clay work? I needed to be briefed on Xenophon's plans. Later. There was still more of the team to appear.

The forrester Feargal Pettyfur made more sense. A knowledge of trees - even the unusual ones we would encounter - had to be essential. Feargal saluted a greeting. "Jackson."

The final passenger was Bruin Redbear who works at Mellowdene Van Hire. I doubted his mechanical skills were the primary reason he was there, but I was prepared to be mistaken. It was more likely he was present to lend his physical strength, which was notable. Carrying engines, lifting up vehicles in the absence of jacks, towing cars - all were tasks that had established his reputation. Shyly, he smiled and waved at me.

Even without Cecile aboard it looked as though the van would be a little cramped.

 

We didn't delay. Farewells made (plus a kiss for Cecile from me), we were soon on the road.

 

o 0 O 0 o

As expected, there wasn't much room in the van. On the journey I sought more details from Xenophon. He began by explaining the choice of route we would attempt through the trees. 

"Brady Cornflower's notebook was invaluable. The lad had documented numerous looping paths through the trees. We were able to identify the point farthest into forest. Feargal has placed markers. We then needed to determine the direction to proceed from there. I enlisted the aid of a cartographer and Ricardo's skill with a camera. We looked down on the trees and located the edge of the clearing that minimised the work you'll need to do."

"Looked down? You flew above the forest?  

   

"Yes. You look surprised."

"Did you use Ricardo's camera?"

Driving, Ricardo commented. "I took the photographs."

Xenophon chuckled. "Ah, I see, Jackson. Have you not heard of Cedric Walnut's invention? His flying machine?"  

I stared at the amused owl. I vaguely recalled hearing part of a conversation between Coltsfoot Ivory and my brother Newton. There had been a suggestion that Cedric Walnut should be invited into their Inventor's Club, but I didn't hear why. Xenophon gave a rough description of the flying machine.

"Cedric has cleverly managed to use coolsalt blocks and heat exchangers to control the lift provided by floaty-pods. This mechanical arrangement is concealed in a protective balloon-like structure attached to a steering unit. He calls it his Skyrider. Very impressive and highly manoeuvrable. It can even remain immobile in mid air. Ideal for taking aerial photographs. "     

I suppose I didn't need to know the details. It did, however, prompt a question. 

"If you have a flying machine, why didn't you land in the clearing to get your crystal things? Mind you, I suppose that doesn't replace the path to Chunglewood."

"A fair question," said Xenophon, "if the energies only affected the vicinity of the trees. Unfortunately it continues above the entire region. Chunglewood and the clearing are still inaccessible."

"It's why we have sky pools," added Ricardo.

"Yes, an interesting phenomenon," said Xenophon. "I should explain. Rain can reach the land, but this is indirectly. Gravity ensures it gets through but, like the looping paths through the forest, it has to wind its way through small portals, sometimes leaving shallow pools of water in the sky."

"It's an odd world," I muttered under my breath. Xenophon heard.

"A world of wonders, certainly." He looked ahead. "We'll soon be there. We can then use the map my cartographer contact made from Ricardo's photographs."

"Okay." I glanced at my travelling companions who seemed to have not being paying attention to my discussion with the knowledgeable owl. "What about the others? I take it you've already briefed them. Don't I need to know what they'll be doing?"

"You will, dear Jackson. At the appropriate time. I sense you've already had a lot of information to absorb. I'm surprised you haven't heard of the Skyrider, you being Newton Butterglove's twin."

"Newton doesn't gossip."

"Ah. Well you'll have plenty to tell him after we're done."

 

I wondered what that would be.

 

o 0 O 0 o

(To be continued)