Braddle and Grenta arrived home late afternoon. Grenta’s father was working on the front door of their house with her brother, Blitter.
“Oh no” said Grenta “dad’s up. I’ll be for it now.”
“I’ll talk to him if you want” said Braddle.
“No, don’t bother yourself. You’ve got other things to worry about” she said. “Thanks for introducing me to Alfie.”
“Sorry about the Boster though” said Braddle.
“It wasn’t your fault. I don’t think I’ll tell dad that I was nearly eaten today. I wouldn’t be allowed out for ten years if I did.”
She smiled at him.
“I hope you find your mother. If you need my help at any time just ask.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek then ran towards her house.
Uncle Malik was planing a piece of wood on the kitchen table when Braddle entered. He closed the front door quietly behind him and watched his uncle as he worked. After bending down and scrutinising the surface of the wood with one eye shut, he then set to work gently planing one edge of it as wood shavings gathered around his feet like locks of hair.
“Hello Uncle.”
Uncle Malik spun round.
“Ah Braddle. I didn’t hear you come in. Come here.”
Braddle went over to him.
“What are you making?” he asked.
“I want to finish the kitchen cupboards before your mother gets back. It will be a nice surprise for her.”
“Do you think we’ll get her back?” asked Braddle, as he sat down.
“I’m certain of it” he replied. He placed the plane on the table and sat down next to Braddle. “I have to believe that we will. The thought that we may not is....” He stood up again. “Whoever has taken her will regret it. I will make sure of it…But first, you need to eat.”
As he was preparing the food Uncle Malik asked about Alfie. Braddle told him that Alfie would help them in any way he could. He smiled at this but then said that it was difficult to see how a boy the size of mountain could help them find Frey. At least, said Braddle, they had a strong reserve force to call on. Uncle Malik nodded. They ate in silence. After the meal Uncle Malik yawned.
“You’re tired Uncle why don’t you get some sleep” said Braddle.
“How can I sleep with your mother gone? Impossible!”
“You’ll be no good to anyone if you’re too tired. While you’re asleep, I’ll go and see Drostfur. I’ll wake you when I get back. I want to find out what is happening and I want to tell him about Alfie.”
“I don’t know”.
Uncle Malik yawned again. This time the yawn had a ferocious quality to it.
“I think you’re right. I will get some sleep. You must promise to wake me when you get back and promise that you be careful. We don’t know who has taken your mother so don’t trust anyone.”
“I promise” said Braddle.
The light was fading by the time Braddle arrived at the Council building. He was dismayed not to have encountered one soldier throughout the journey there. He expected to see thousands of them searching every dent and dark space of the city for his mother but there was none to be seen. Even the Council Building was not as he expected. Instead of being the centre of a frantic and noisy search operation it was quiet and deserted. The great entrance doors were shut and most of the lights had been turned off as if…as if a normal working day had ended and everyone had left to enjoy another normal night. How could they just go home? thought Braddle. Things are not normal. They are not!
He had to speak to Drostfur.
The main door was locked so Braddle went in search of another way in. After walking round the building he eventually found an unlocked door at the back. It led to a quiet, dimly lit corridor with doors running along both sides of it. All the doors were closed. At the opposite end of the corridor was another door. It was closed as well. It must lead to the council chamber, thought Braddle. From there, it’ll be easy to find Drostfur’s office. Braddle opened the door slightly. He was right. It did lead to the Council Chamber. From the other side of it he could hear voices though. The voices were raised, angry, accusing.
Braddle sidled in to the Chamber and crept to the nearest pillar. He tilted his head and observed with one eye the scene in the centre of the Chamber. Drostfur and General Stoo were standing there facing each other. Behind each of them stood two soldiers. Drostfur was enraged.
“This is outrageous” he shouted at General Stoo. “You are an officer of this Chamber and of the people of Carporoo not its master.”
“Drostfur, you must calm yourself” replied General Stoo, clearly enjoying the distress of the leading Counsellor. “The time has come for both you and this Chamber to be dissolved. From tomorrow, I will assume full control of the city.”
“By what right? By what right?” Drostfur demanded to know.
“This, I think, gives me the right” said General Stoo and he raised his hand and made a fist. “This and the desperate need Carporoo has for it.”
“No, Carporoo does not need you General” said Drostfur. “You are just another weak, self-deluded man trying to steal the strength of other people. Like all weak men you will only succeed by convincing the strong that they are weaker than you but the strong are not fools. They will, in the end, smash you into a thousand pieces.”
“Save your flowery nonsense” said General Stoo. “It is meaningless and leaves me cold.”
Drostfur straightened himself and looked directly in to the General’s eyes.
“You are a traitor, a poor, deluded traitor. I feel sorry for you.”
“How dare you speak to me like that” shouted General Stoo. “You…”
A strong hand grabbed Braddle’s collar and practically carried him in to the centre of the Chamber.
“Get off! Get off!” shouted Braddle, as he tried to knock the hand away.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Take your hands off him” demanded Drostfur.
General Stoo nodded to the owner of the hand and the hand released its grip.
“Boy, you seem to have a knack of turning up where you are not wanted” said the General, “just like your father.”
General Stoo smiled.
“Braddle, why have you come here?” asked Drostfur.
“I...I wanted to speak to you” said Braddle.
“Well you can do all the talking you want in a moment” said General Stoo.
General Stoo turned to confer quietly with the two soldiers behind him. Braddle glanced at Drostfur. He looked as if he was about to face Carporoo’s ultimate punishment, a punishment reserved for those convicted of the worse crimes, of being thrown on to a spronger’s web. He looked helpless and defeated. Braddle turned away.
“Well, it has been decided” said General Stoo. “You will be my guests until first light then you will both disappear.”
“Disappear? Where?” asked Drostfur, glancing at Braddle.
“Don’t worry” replied General Stoo. “You will not be harmed in anyway. Whatever you think of me I am most certainly not a brute. Besides, I have no need to harm you. Your permanent removal from Carporoo is all I desire and this can be achieved quite easily.”
General Stoo addressed the soldiers standing behind Drostfur.
“Please escort our two guests to Drostfur’s office and hold them there 'til morning. In the meantime I shall prepare my proclamation. Tomorrow” he said, facing Drostfur, “the people will learn that you, too, have mysteriously disappeared. I will declare that for the good of the people I am to assume executive control until the present danger has passed. The present danger, though, I can confidently say, will not pass.”
“You are a disgrace to your uniform Stoo” spat Drostfur. “My last act now as lead Councillor of Carporoo is to strip you of the office of General. Whatever you are now you are no longer General of the armies of Carporoo. Come Braddle.”
Drostfur turned and walke
d with as much dignity as he could carry towards his office. He was followed by Braddle and two soldiers. Behind him, Braddle could hear General Stoo call Drostfur a fool. He also heard him ask the other soldiers whether the cage had returned yet. They confirmed it had.
“Good” he said “the giant has now got two new pets.”
Giant? Giant? Did I hear right? thought Braddle. We are to be handed over… to a Giant?