Finding a Way (7) - A Change of Plan

The van journey back from Tall Tree Forest was uneventful. Ricardo Porcini drove us back to the village, dropping of Feargal Pettyfur, Delvin McBurrows, Rolf Billabong and Bruin Redbear before taking Xenophon Treefellow and I back to my house on Dandelion Lane.  

My owl companion had insisted on being with me when Cecile was informed of our failed expedition. Since our first meeting I had the impression that he wasn't quite sure what to make of my wife. I could tell he respected her but there was something else. Whether he was unsettled by her directness or merely intrigued, I wasn't sure. Either way, he didn't go into details about our expedition immediately.  He waited until after Cecile had greeted me with her happy face and a warm kiss.

"Jackson did well, Cecile," said Xenophon, "so you mustn't think of it as his failure. As I pointed out, the proto-crystal was flawed. Jackson made delicate adjustments to create a path. Whilst the stone functioned as we hoped it didn’t have the range to create a path to the forest clearing."

"I see," said Cecile. She paused and I could tell that she was thinking this through."Does that mean those poor people of Chunglewood must remain stranded?"

"No," I began, but Xenophon signalled for me to hold back.

"If I may be the one to explain, dear Jackson. I should first give Cecile an overview of what we were trying to achieve in a tad more detail..."

Cecile looked amused. "Go ahead."

"The plan was to create a temporary work route to the clearing, obtain some good quality proto-crystals from within, and then make the route more permanent. I say permanent; in the long term we would prefer processed crystals. We could take readings to assist with their manufacture." 

He paused. "Forgive me. I'm getting ahead of myself. Initially, Delvin would have dug holes at key points and within these Rolf would have placed a secure cradle to hold each proto-crystal. A foundation if you will. You see, he would mould his clay as required to create these custom cradles. Once these were fixed in place Feargal would place a protective cage over them. He is able weave strips of supple wood to create such cages."

"But you didn't get that far," Cecile commented, eager to press on to the revised solution.

"Jackson cleverly reminded me that we could enter the clearing from above. I had mentioned Cedric Walnut..."

"Ah. His flying machine," said Cecile, nodding.

I stared at her. "You know about that?"

"Of course I do, Jack. It's called the Skyrider. Surely you haven't forgotten that Emma Furbanks is Cedric's sister?"

Emma was Cecile's friend at Cake Club. Of course I shouldn't have been surprised my wife knew about the flying machine. But why hadn't she mentioned it?

"I'm hardly going to discuss a flying machine where Brendan might hear. He'd want to  emulate the latest episode of Flash Gopher."

Xenophon was watching this exchange. "Flash Gopher?"

"Never mind," said Cecile, "it's a television character. Go on about the Skyrider."

"Ah, yes. The unusual effect encountered trying to pass through the trees also applies above the clearing, albeit not as intense. Jackson suggested that the proto-crystal could be manipulated from above and a way opened down to the clearing."

Cecile smiled at me. "You clever thing."

"Indeed," said Xenophon. "Which brings us to the new plan. Jackson can be lowered down through the opening, and I can fly down with him. We will gather new proto-crystals and create a path from inside."

"Hmm. And how do you feel about this, Jack? Dangling from a flying machine? Be honest."

Cecile knew me so there was no point in hiding anything. "Well, it does feel a bit scary."

"Thought so. Well, don't worry my love. You're not doing it."

Xenophon was silent. Cecile continued. "If adjustments are delicate, as you put it, how difficult would it be to maintain the opening? How skilled is Cedric at keeping his Skyrider from moving about? How windy is it up there?"

 

My wife is a wonder. "I hadn't thought about that," I said.

"You don't want to get stranded down there if the opening disappears. How long would

 it be until you could get your crystal stuff working from in there? No, Xenophon. This isn't what was agreed."

 

Xenophon was staring at her. She hadn't finished.  

 

"What Jack needs to do is stay up there with Cedric and keep the opening... open." She fixed Xenophon with a look. "You can fly down and find your crystals. Maybe lower down a basket or something and haul them up."

The owl blinked. "My. Now that is an idea we can use. Retrieve decent stones and then reprise our original plan. I'll give this thought. Discuss it with Aristotle and Arabella. At the very least I must also check on Cedric's availability before I get back in touch with you. I'll make a start now."

Cecile winked at me. 

Preparing to leave, Xenophon regarded my wife. "Thank you Cecile. I must say that you Buttergloves are impressive."

Cecile laughed. "Lovely of you to say. Even though I'm an Ivory by birth."

This time it was Xenophon who laughed. "Then we have a fortunate meeting of minds."

Escorting Xenophon from Butterglove House I pondered his words. Fortunate. It wasn't just minds. It was the whole package. I was fortunate to have met the bunny who was my soul mate. My darling Cecile.  

 

 

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(To be continued)