The Piddleton Unrest by B G Denvil

Author:B G Denvil [Denvil, B G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gaskell Publishing
Published: 2020-07-12T22:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

The echoing bellow startled the entire household.

“Demons?” sighed Uta.

“Shadow devils,” screamed Gorgeous.

“Crows fighting, perhaps?” said Mandrake.

“It’s just a donkey,” Maggs told him. She was lying in his arms at the time, and her remark was muffled against his shoulder.

“We don’t have any donkeys here,” objected Mandrake. “But I’d better find out in case it’s trouble. I’ll be back in just a moment.”

The tree house door was no longer locked against her, but Maggs did not feel that she should take advantage. Nor was she entirely ready yet to face a diverse collection of witches and wizards. “They’re not all like me.” Mandrake had informed her with a smug grin.

Seeing the donkey almost at once, Mandrake flew down beside it and discovered the usual trio patting and reassuring the pathetic looking animal. “It was starving, and Rosie rescued it,” said Peg, looking up at Mandrake’s shocked expression.

“Rosie,” Mandrake said through his teeth, “is hoping for a sainthood. But the church isn’t likely to erect a statue to a witch.”

“It was starving,” Rosie objected loudly. “And we have plenty of room here. It’s not as if we have to buy food.”

“We might have to buy a stable.”

“We have one free already,” Rosie pointed out, “next door to Dipper. I don’t think he’d mind a donkey living where Kate used to live.”

“You might have to change the bed.”

“Why did it make that revolting noise?” Mandrake demanded.

“Me,” said a voice from the long grass. Everyone looked down, and the little fat snake reared its head, two blinking emerald eyes facing the sunshine. “I thought it looked quite hungry, so I went to give it a cuddle. It didn’t seem to like me.”

“It’s Whistle,” sighed Edna.

Rosie was stroking Donald’s neck. “Whistle, dear,” she said, “I know a snake is easier just being one long wriggling thing without hands and feet, but not many birds or beasts like snakes. Can’t you please try and be something else?”

“I could try, I suppose,” Whistle muttered, “but it’ll take time. It’s all very well for you lot. You’re not dead.”

“You don’t have to come back,” said Peg. “Ghostly serpents aren’t necessary.”

“So you just don’t want me around?” objected the snake, his voice sounding like an offended silk.

“No, no,” said Rosie in a hurry. “Please stay. But be a rabbit.”

“Brainless mating machines,” muttered the snake.

“Or a bird.”

“A sparrow, I suppose, that you can stand on?”

“I love your visits,” said Rosie. “I’d love to sit for ages and talk with you.” She paused, then asked, “By the way, did you turn up a few days ago as a big fat yellow snake?”

“Certainly not,” said Whistle. “I’m brown and green, and that’s that.”

“Oh dear,” remembered Rosie. “But never mind. Meet Donald the donkey. I’d like to talk to you in my own rooms, if you wouldn’t mind.” She looked up as Mandrake hovered. “I was thinking of Maggs too,” she said. “Would she like to come to supper tomorrow? With all of us, I mean? Or would she be scared?”

“A human?” gasped several voices in shocked amazement.

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