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 5: 'Where on earth is Bill?'

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The train sped on, leaving Holly Cottage and Mother farther and farther behind. Soon the train was rushing through bleak, wintry countryside. They passed farm after farm, seeing very few people about.

'The animals will be in cosy barns in this cold weather,' said Jack. 'And I suppose most people are rushing home with their last few bits of shopping, ready to start their Christmas celebrations.'

'But here we are – having left Mother behind – speeding through strange countryside, to a place we don't know at all!' said Philip.

'But we do know Bill,' said Lucy-Ann, 'and we know he is a jolly decent chap and the best friend we could have.'

'And the most exciting,' added Dinah, remembering the high adventure they had had last summer at Craggy-Tops.

The children were glad to have the train compartment all to themselves and they stretched out comfortably, appreciating how warm and cosy they were, for outside it looked cold and bleak. A friendly-faced guard appeared to check their tickets, clipping the corner of each one. He had unruly grey hair and small wire-rimmed spectacles perched on the end of his nose. His name was Joe Dobbs, and Mother had asked him to keep an eye on the children.

'Everything all right with you lot?' he asked in a friendly tone.

'Quite all right, thank you, Mr Dobbs, said Philip politely.

'Very good, very good,' he replied, for he had a habit of sometimes repeating himself.

'Merry Christmas!' said Kiki. 'God save the King!'

'Oh bless my soul, bless my soul,' said Mr Dobbs, for he had never had a parrot in one of his carriages before. 'Yes, indeed, God save the King.' And tipping his hat in respect, he continued on his way.

Lunch time came, and Dinah shared out ham sandwiches and sausage rolls; then she rummaged deeper into the brown paper lunch bag and produced delicious little mince pies and four tangerines. Lovely! Kiki tucked in to some tasty sunflower seeds, pecking away in delight for they were her favourite. Wonderfully full, the children rested against the soft red velvet seats of the carriage, and felt the rhythmic rocking of the train as it sped along... soon their eyes were closing and their heads were nodding – after all, they had slept badly the night before – and when Mr Dobbs next passed the compartment he spied four children and one parrot, all sound asleep!

Philip woke up first. For a moment he couldn't think where he was – then he remembered he was on the train! But something was different – the train wasn't moving.

'We've stopped at a station,' he realised. Looking about, he saw a few people scurrying by, and a newspaper seller trying to sell his few remaining newspapers. He managed to catch sight of the headlines:

'STORMY WEATHER AHEAD! SNOW WARNINGS ISSUED!' the newspaper announced, in big bold letters.

Philip nudged Jack in the ribs, for he was too excited to keep the news to himself.

'Jack, Jack, wake up. It's going to snow in time for Christmas!' he said.

The two boys peered out of the dirty carriage window and up into the darkening sky. Ominous clouds loomed overhead and a vicious wind whipped about the station, litter and fallen leaves billowing up the platform. Pigeons huddled in the station rafters looking cold and miserable, their heads sunk deep into their breasts. And then a whistle blew, and the train was off again, speeding northwards, towards Bill's house, and towards the looming storm.

The afternoon was spent dozing, reading and playing snap. Teatime came and Dinah produced more sandwiches, as well as a big slab of milk chocolate which she broke into four great chunks and shared out.

'That's the last of the food,' she said, crumpling up the brown paper bag. 'Who wants this last bit of lemonade?'

Philip, who had been peering out of the window intently for the last hour, gave a sudden shout.

'Look, snowflakes!'

Jack, Dinah and Lucy-Ann dived to the window and pressed their noses against the grubby pane. At first they could see nothing but darkness, but then... yes! It had started to snow. Great white flakes, millions and millions of them, drifting and swirling in the wind. Soon the tops of the hedges were covered in a white layer, and the dark fields were blanketed in thick snow. And still the snow fell relentlessly, growing thicker and thicker on the ground, and then the countryside could no longer be seen at all, only billowing clouds of snowflakes, too dense to see through. The children watched the magical scene in wonder.

'I think we must be nearly there by now,' said Philip. And then a thought struck him. 'I do hope Bill has managed to motor up from London, it can't be all that easy in this weather.'

No sooner were the words out of his mouth, when the train brakes started screeching and the train came to a shuddering stop. Whatever was the matter?

Jack spotted Joe Dobbs hurrying down the corridor past their compartment and leapt up to catch his attention.

'I say, do you know why we've stopped? Is everything all right?' he asked.

'There's a snow drift blocking the line up ahead,' said Mr Dobbs. 'A snowdrift!' he repeated, as if he couldn't believe it. Then, seeing four anxious faces he added, 'Don't you worry, don't you worry – the workmen are on their way clear it. We will be late getting to Moorland station, very late indeed. But there's nothing can be done about it, nothing at all.' And with that he walked on, scratching his head and muttering to himself.

The four children looked at each other. Dinah was the first to speak.

'Poor Bill, he'll have a long cold wait for us at Moorland station. And after flying from France, and then motoring all the way from London, all in one day. He'll be quite exhausted.'

'He'll probably just have a sleep in the car,' said Jack. 'He'll be ok. But I do hope we get going again soon.'

But they didn't get going again soon. After what felt like an age – and was in fact nearly two hours – the train engine rumbled back to life and they resumed their journey, the track having been cleared at last. The children were tired now, and getting hungry, stiff and chilly. It had been a long day.

Suddenly Mr Dobbs popped his head into the compartment.

'Nearly there, nearly there,' he announced, 'Better get yourselves ready, we arrive in five minutes.'

'Oh, thank goodness,' said Lucy-Ann, relieved. 'I can't wait to see Bill.'

'I bet the poor chap is frozen solid, waiting for us all this time,' said Jack, with a worried look on his face. 'I'm rather concerned about Kiki, I don't want to expose her to this snow and wind. She's a tropical bird, she can't cope with such cold weather.'

Then his eyes lit up – he had remembered something! He pulled on his thick winter coat and then opened the left side, exposing the warm blue lining material. A big fat roll of tough-looking fabric had been stitched to the lining.

'Hop on, Kiki,' he coaxed.

And Kiki flew straight to him and grabbed the fat roll in her claws. Jack gently closed up his coat and fastened the buttons. There was a big bulge over the front of his chest, and at the neck, where you would normally expect to see a scarf, there was a little, white feathered face, looking out at them from her cosy perch!

'Oh, so that's how you smuggled her into the cinema!' exclaimed Philip.

'Yes', answered Jack. 'But more importantly, while she is perched there she is protected from the wind and the cold. My body heat will help to keep her warm and cosy. But I would still like to get her indoors as quickly as possible, cold is not good for parrots.'

And very soon they were tumbling out of the compartment, thanking Mr Dobbs, grabbing their bags and cases, and getting a sudden shock as the chilly night air hit their faces.

'My goodness, it's jolly cold', said Philip. 'Quick, find Bill's car and let's get out of this wind.'

The four children hurried to the station entrance, looking up and down the road. People hurried off in all directions, eager to get home. They saw the stationmaster lock the station gates with a loud clang, and then put up a notice, printed in big black letters:

NO MORE TRAINS UNTIL 27TH DECEMBER – CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

And then there was no one left in sight, neither in the street nor in the road. No one walking, no one driving. And absolutely no sign of Bill's car. It was pitch dark, and they were in a snow storm, with a howling, bitter wind, in a place they did not know – and they were absolutely alone.

'Where on earth is Bill?' said Philip, getting worried. 'And what are we going to do?'

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