The Christmas of Adventure

©2015 June E.

Philip, Dinah, Jack and Lucy-Ann are excited at the prospect of spending their first Christmas together, but by Christmas Eve all their plans lie in ruins. Things get even worse when a severe snowstorm brings the country to a standstill and leaves Bill snowbound, hundreds of miles away. Forced to fend for themselves in Bill's remote moorland cottage, rumours abound of a strange and terrifying creature lurking in the woods nearby... and with a ruthless thief on the loose, striking at night and stealing birds from the local Sanctuary, the scene is set for a frightening and perilous adventure. Can they stop the thief before it's too late? Or will Kiki be the robber's next victim?

Chapter 10: 'Them woods is no place for a bunch of children.'

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Boxing Day dawned crisp and cold, with a sharp breeze and some ominous clouds that carried the threat of more snow. Over a breakfast of porridge, boiled eggs and cocoa, the children discussed what they planned to do that day. Philip had been rummaging in the shelves of Bill's overcrowded bookcase and had managed to find a map of the local district.

'Here's Oak Tree Cottage, and here's the lane into Moorland village,' he said, pointing at the map. 'Then the road skirts around the edge of Moorland woods for about two miles, and then eventually you come to Moorland Bird Sanctuary.'

'Goodness that's quite a long way to walk in all this snow,' said Lucy-Ann.

'Hang on,' said Jack, peering closely at the map. 'There's no need to walk the whole length of that road. Look – just beyond our cottage there is a footpath; it takes a direct route across Moorland Woods and meets the main road quite close to the Sanctuary.'

Everyone agreed that the woodland shortcut was the best route, and they would leave directly after lunch.

The rest of the morning flew by. Philip tested the telephone and found that it still wasn't working; he was glad to be able to avoid an awkward conversation with Mother that day. Fibbing to Fred Fletcher was one thing, but he knew he could never tell lies to Mother. And if she found out that the children were on their own at Bill's cottage, the inevitable would happen – she would insist they return home immediately, and their Christmas adventure would be over.

Before leaving Kiki in the cottage alone, Jack wanted to be sure that Kiki was quite comfortable, and he found her dozing by the fire in the sitting room. As he entered the room Kiki opened one eye and said in a deep, American drawl, 'Who d'ya think your lookin' at?'

Jack badly wanted to laugh at Kiki's rude question, but he knew that would only encourage her to keep on saying it. He would much rather she forget those gangster phrases as quickly as possible! So ignoring Kiki's words, he said, 'Hey Kiki, I'm sorry we have to leave you behind, but cold weather is not at all good for parrots. You are much safer indoors.'

Kiki gave a peculiar screeching laugh, as if to say, 'You must be crazy to go outdoors in this cold weather!'

No, Kiki certainly had no desire to join them on their walk, and she closed her eye and nestled back contentedly. Then, just as Jack was leaving the room, once again he heard a rough American voice.

'Get outta here, you dirty rat!

'Oh no! What else has Kiki learned from that gangster film!' thought a horrified Jack, remembering all the rough talk in the movie. 'And whatever will she say next!'

Having said goodbye to Kiki, and wrapped themselves up warmly in coats, hats, scarves and gloves, the children set off down the garden path. They went quietly, for they did not want to draw attention to themselves and have to deal with awkward questions from Fred Fletcher or his son. They took care not to bang the garden gate, and breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the road.

The signpost for Moorland Woods was now easily visible, and they tramped across the road to join the path. But at that moment, the quiet was disturbed by a sudden shout, accompanied by loud barking.

'Ay! Ay, you children! Where are you off to, then?'

The children swung round, and to their dismay, Fred Fletcher was standing at his garden gate, looking a little out of breath. At his feet danced a brown and white spaniel, looking excited at the sight of strangers. Behind him in the cottage doorway loomed the tall figure of a younger man, presumably Frank, his son.

'Good afternoon sir,' said Philip politely. He seemed to have become the official spokesman for the group, and the other children were quite happy to let him do the talking.

'How's Bill doin'?' inquired Fred. 'Is he feelin' any better?'

'To the best of my knowledge, Bill is pretty much the same as he was yesterday,' answered Philip, trying his best not to tell any actual lies. 'What a beautiful dog you have. Hello boy!' he added, wanting to be polite, but also wanting to get away from Fred as quickly as possible.

'Her name is Maisie,' said Fred a little pointedly. 'Don't mind her barkin', she always barks when there are strangers about. And where did you say you were goin'?'

'Err, we didn't say... but we're off for a walk through the woods to stretch our legs,' said Philip, eager to divert Fred's attention away from Bill and his whereabouts.

Fred's face changed instantly.

'You're goin' into Moorland Woods?' he asked, sounding alarmed. 'What do you want to do that for? You'd be far better off stickin' to the main road.'

'Oh, it's quite alright,' reassured Philip. 'We have a map and we'll stick to the main path.'

'Well just you make sure you're back well before dark,' said Fred sternly. 'Them woods is no place for a bunch of children.'

'Why not?' asked Dinah, boldly, for she did not like being told what to do.

Fred looked uneasy.

'Some folk say them woods is haunted,' he said, speaking quietly and looking about, as if he wanted to make sure he wasn't overheard. 'My Maisie won't go in there for love nor money, will you girl? And dogs know things, they can sense when somethin' is wrong.'

He lowered his voice almost to a whisper, and his eyes grew wide.

'You ask Mrs Grouch. 'Er 'usband Burt says there's a creature in them woods – a big one. He says he's seen its footprints when he's been out walking. And they weren't the footprints of no natural creature, he says.'

Lucy-Ann looked as if she was about to faint. Jack grabbed her arm and yanked her away.

'Come on,' he hissed. 'Come on!'

Jack dragged poor reluctant Lucy-Ann briskly down the path, and a bewildered Dinah followed behind. Before he had time to think, Philip found himself saying a hasty 'good afternoon' to Fred, before rushing off to catch up with the others. Just before he lost sight of the cottages, Philip glanced back. Fred was still looking at him, he hadn't moved an inch – and his face was stern. Philip shivered – that stern stare made him feel uneasy.

Philip had a job to catch up with the others, for Jack had strode off at quite a pace.

'Jack! Slow down!' called Philip.

Dinah and Lucy-Ann stopped to wait for Philip, but Jack didn't turn round or slow down. Couldn't Jack hear him? Philip raced down the snowy path, the main road rapidly getting farther and farther away. Then, the snow that had been threatening all morning finally started to fall – great big soft flakes, teeming out of the leaden sky and blotting out the weak sunlight of the afternoon. Still Jack strode on and on through the woods, Philip, Lucy-Ann and Dinah desperately trying to catch up with him.

'Jack!' Philip shouted urgently, catching hold of Jack's coat sleeve at last. 'What's the idea? Why are you tearing off like this? We must discuss what Fred said.'

'That's precisely why I did tear off,' said Jack, out of breath. 'I don't want us to discuss it, and no doubt decide to turn back – I want to go to the bird sanctuary.'

'Jack! This isn't fair!' exclaimed Lucy-Ann, looking really worried and starting to cry. 'We should all have a say in what we do.'

'Well go back, if that's what you want to do,' said Jack coldly. 'I am not scared of a silly story, and I want to go on.'

'Oh Jack, we mustn't split up! Not in this strange forest, and in the snow... and it will start getting dark soon,' said Dinah, looking frightened.

Philip was really alarmed now. It was important that they stuck together in these unfamiliar woods. It was important that they all got home safely without getting into any trouble, for there was no adult on hand to help them if they got into difficulties. He must find a way to make Jack see this!

But before Philip could say anything more, the snow started to fall more heavily. A fierce, cruel wind gusted, blowing the icy flakes into their faces. And looking around, they realised that it was no longer possible to see the path through the woods; all around them was just a swirling mass of white flakes.

'Ok,' said Jack, defeated. 'We'd better turn back. But I am going to try again tomorrow – I am determined to go to the bird sanctuary, no matter what Fred says.'

They turned around and started to walk back along the path; it was difficult to make out the way. The snow got heavier by the second, as if the entire heavens had opened. Very soon it was impossible to make out the path at all. They stumbled on as quickly as they could, Philip leading the way, and each person holding the hand of the person behind them so that no one would be lost.

And then without warning, Philip came to a halt. He turned to look at the others with a solemn face.

'I'm afraid we're lost,' he said. 'I simply don't know how we're going to find our way home!'

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