Braddle felt the sunlight touch his face with its warm fingers. He turned over on to his left side, stretched his legs and let his arm hang over the bed. Sleep had not finished with him yet. Something was not quite right though. He felt odd. What was it? The realisation pushed sleep away. He was still dressed. He was wearing his shirt and jacket, his trousers and, even, his shoes. He remembered the night before. His mother had disappeared! Throwing the bed covers off he ran in to the living room. Uncle Malik was not there. On the kitchen table was a note.
Dear Braddle,
I have gone to see Drostfur to report your Mother missing and to find out what has happened. Drostfur is a good man and I know that he will do all he can. I will be back soon. Wait for me here. I know it will be hard but I need you to be strong. We will find her, I promise you.
Love Uncle Malik.
It was true then. His mother had actually disappeared. It was not a bad dream. What was he to do? The thought that she had suddenly gone, had been taken by someone, was unbearable. He remembered how she was the morning before. He remembered her laughing. Where was she now? What was happening to her? He imagined her in a dark place, alone, afraid and weeping. Tears fell down his cheeks. He dropped on to a chair, holding his head in his hands. Eventually, the tears stopped but the pain did not. The pain was boundless and he would never have enough tears for it. The front door opened behind him and closed again. He turned slowly hoping, desperately, that his mother would be standing there. Uncle Malik, however, stood alone.
“Any news?” asked Braddle, getting up.
“Nothing yet” he replied.
His uncle put his big arms around him and hugged him tight.
“Sit down” he said, after letting him go.
They both sat down.
“I have spoken to Drostfur” he continued “but he has not seen your mother. He certainly did not send her a letter asking her to come to see him. He has ordered a search to be carried out immediately and he will let us know as soon as they find anything.”
“Who sent the letter then?” asked Braddle.
“We don’t know” said his uncle. “Here it is.”
His uncle pulled a white piece of paper from his breast pocket and handed it to Braddle. It was an ordinary piece of paper with one fold down the centre.
“All we know is that it was pushed under the door sometime last night…I mean, the night before last” said his Uncle.
Braddle unfolded the letter and read it aloud.
Dear Frey,
I would be pleased if you, Malik and Braddle could come to see me any time this morning. I have news about somebody which will be of interest to you. A glimmer of hope has appeared and we need to discuss what we should do.
From your faithful friend, Drostfur.
“So it was a trick to get her to walk in to a trap?” asked Braddle.
“Yes, but not just her” said Uncle Malik. “They wanted all three of us and they used your father as bait.”
“But why?” asked Braddle. “Why have they taken her? Why did they want us?”
His uncle rubbed his face with the palm of his hands.
“I don’t know” he said. “Something is going on but I don’t know what. I don’t know what to do.” He made fists with both hands and clenched them tight. “All I know is that when I get my hands on them I’ll make them sorry that they ever left school.”
Braddle had heard the word ‘search’ before. A search is always carried out but nothing is ever found. The army will undertake a search but they will not find his mother. Those who had taken her would make sure of that. The search would then come to an end and life for others would return to normal but his life would not, could not. Every moment of his life would have an empty space where his mother should be. No! The horror of it was too much to bear. He could not let this happen. He would not let it happen. He, Braddle, would find his mother himself. He would not rest until she was back here with the people she loved and who loved her. Everyone would think that a nine year old boy could not possibly succeed when the army of Carporoo had failed but they had not reckoned on that boy having a giant for a friend. Yes, thought Braddle, Alfie shall help me. He can overturn every building in Carporoo if needs be. Now that would be a proper search.
“Uncle, I don’t think that we should just sit here and do nothing. I don’t think that the army will find her. We must do it ourselves.”
“What can we do?” asked his uncle, shaking his head.
“I don’t know yet but I have got this friend and I will go and speak to him first.”
Braddle told him all about Alfie. Uncle Malik sat quietly until he had finished.
“So your giant friend is true after all” he said and laughed. “I heard rumours of giants when I was younger” he continued “and even when I was in the army but I did not believe them. In fact, the man over the road there always told me that he had seen one once but I always laughed.”
“I am meeting Alfie this morning. I told Grenta that I would take her to meet him. I will talk to him about mother and about what help he can give us.”
“I suppose it would be alright to talk to him but you must promise to be careful and to keep me informed.”
“I promise” said Braddle.
He stood up and put his arms around his uncle.
“I will wait here in case a messenger comes” said his Uncle.
Braddle turned and went to the front door. Through its small window he saw Grenta sitting on the pile of stones waiting for him.