The Storyteller's Secrets by Tony Mitton

Author:Tony Mitton [Mitton, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781407077123
Publisher: RHCP
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

And how again he fished the sea

and looked to it for life,

but never more would harm a seal

with net or club or knife.

And how, whenever he rode the waves,

in swollen tides or calm,

his nets were never empty

and he never came to harm.

My story’s done and over,

my tale is at an end,

of how a cruel hunter

became the selkies’ friend.

It is a story handed down

from many a year ago.

The tale’s been told by many a tongue,

but I have told it so.

‘OH, WHAT A strange story,’ said Tess.

‘Like being taken to another world,’ said Toby.

‘There’s the power of story for you,’ said Teller. ‘It can take you places you might never get to in your body. And it can teach you things by telling tales that seem unbelievable …’

‘How did you know about the bird?’ asked Toby.

‘And to be here just at the right time?’ said Tess.

‘Ah,’ said Teller mysteriously, with a twinkle in his eyes. ‘News gets around in all kinds of ways. But I have something for you in my bag. To go with the story, of course.’ And he rummaged in his bundle, took out the leather pouch, and from it seemed to conjure another of his little scraps. It looked like a tangle of black, tarry string.

‘What is it?’ asked Tess.

‘Yes, where’s it from?’ added Toby.

‘It’s a scrap of the seal hunter’s fishing net,’ answered Teller, putting it into Tess’s hand. ‘Add it to your collection. If you forget the story, just sniff the net. You can almost smell the sea on it. Maybe the seals too,’ he said, wrinkling up his nose. ‘I must be off now, though,’ he went on briskly. ‘Places to go, people to see. While I still have the strength,’ he added.

And leaving Tess holding the piece of net, and both twins watching him go, Teller hoisted up his bundle and took the track up and over the hill, returning the way he’d come the first time they’d seen him. He paused on the skyline for a moment, gave a brief wave, then disappeared out of sight.

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