passenger said George.
And the driver said Joey.
You can’t be said George… I’ve got the keys.
Well who was driving it before said Joey… just now… when it came in.
It looked like a big dog said George.
Was he gruff said Joey.
Probably said George.
And hairy said Joey.
Very said George.
That sounds like Bill said Joey…
He shouldn’t be driving trains with his eyesight.
I went over to them with my box.
Look what I have I said.
They looked.
Very nice said Joey…
But we’re a bit busy at the moment…
Bill’s been driving trains again.
Oh I said… and slowly opened the box.
Yes said George heeeeees...
Can I have one.
Yes said Joey heeeeees...
CAKE!
I got you these as a present I said.
You can have one each.
Joey chose strawberry and George chose chocolate.
Lovely they said.
Joey polished his off and watched George.
Need any help there George he said.
No Thank You said George.
Joey looked down at the last two cakes…
Then up at me.
Then back down at the last two cakes…
Then up at me.
Hmmm… he said.
One for Jumbo and one for me I said.
Jumbo doesn’t like cake said Joey.
Really I said.
Yes said Joey. It makes him sick.
He waggled his fingers expectantly.
Do you like cake said George.
I Love It said Joey.
I meant You said George… with chocolate round his mouth.
Yes I said… and dug out the cake with the piggy’s face.
Are you going to eat that said Joey.
I certainly am I said… and went to take a bite.
It’s just said Joey…
I’ve seen those types of cakes before…
When I was on one of my secret missions.
And they’re not good.
They’re trick cakes.
Oh Really I said.
Yes he said.
They look nice… but they’re baaaaaad.
And eating one will make you baaaaaad.
Well then I said… I’ll just have to be baaaaaad.
I took a big bite and watched the disappointment on Joey’s face.
It tastes gooooood I said.
You shouldn’t have done that said Joey.
I laughed at his head shaking.
Can we share the last one said George.
It’s for Jumbo I said.
It’ll make him baaaaaad said George… it’s another piggy one.
I looked back and indeed it was.
Jumbo definitely can’t have that said Joey…
And snatched the cake from the box.
Joey I shouted…
But he threw it over the station roof.
What are you doing I shouted…
That was a present... for Jumbo.
I don’t want him to be baaaaaad he said.
Then turned and walked away.
I stood dumbfounded and looked to George.
He shrugged his shoulders.
He’s right though he said simply...
Then ran off after his friend.
Night Time
The sun went down and Lijah pulled us together.
With us now he said.
We fell into familiar step and left the station behind.
I walked with Jumbo.
George and Joey held hands and walked in front.
Joey was telling George about Bill’s eyesight and how he needed to eat more carrots.
Did you enjoy your cake said Jumbo.
Yes I said.
Then realised we had stopped.
I went to the village I said.
I know he said.
And I didn’t tell Lijah I said… because I thought he would be angry.
Lijah only wants you to be safe he said.
Will you tell him I said.
No he said.
I felt better knowing Jumbo knew.
I got you a cake I said…
But Joey threw it over the station roof.
He said it would make you baaaaaad.
He laughed.
Perhaps it would have he said.
I watched Joey and George skipping along.
They seem happy I said.
They will spin tomorrow he said.
Their hearts feel it and are full.
But what will happen when they spin I said.
Ask them he said.
I shouted to George and Joey.
Hey you two…what will happen when you spin.
They didn’t turn… but jumped and clicked their heels together.
We will lose our feet they shouted.
I looked to Jumbo.
He nodded simply.
They will fall down I said.
He smiled.
No he said.
They will lose their feet.
I don’t understand I said.
You will see said Jumbo...
Old things must pass away.
We marched across the night-time fields… like blankets on a sleeping world.
In the distance pin pricks glistened.
Another village said Lijah…
It will bring us back within the Leys.
A lane led us towards it.
We moved along in silence.
It began to rain again.
And then the Gassers came.
Down the Midnight Lane
The rain smashed down… shattering the leaves as we ran.
We gulped in breaths… the smell of their rubber clutching at our throats.
The wolves nudged at our calfs… rounding us on.
Slip slop slap. Slip slop slap. Clown shoes in flight.
Gassss Gassss Gassss. Gassss Gassss Gassss.
The evil hissed behind.
The lane became wider and the trees fell back… the beginning of the village.
Run on and past urged Lijah… the boundary is a Ley.
The wolves marked us through… then turned to face the Gassers.
They were slowing… seeming to recognise some invisible line they could not cross.
They held... merging with the rain... silhouetted in its curtain.
Gassss Gassss Gassss… came hissing down the wind.
Lijah and his brethren snarled back... prowling the border.
Jumbo turned to Lijah.
He is still not with them he said.
Who is this person I gasped…
That you keep talking about.
They looked at each other.
Then Jumbo nodded.
He is the one you saw upon the hill said Lijah.
But who is he I said… what is his name.
He has many names said Lijah...
But to us he is the Nail Maker.
The Spinning Field
We travelled down the edge of the new day…
The clowns exhausted.
George and Joey whimpered fretfully and tried to hide beneath Jumbo’s coat whenever they could.
They clung to him... clutching at his sleeves with clumsy hands.
Sodden and bedraggled… water dripping from their noses and their hair all matted down.
They cowered as they schlepped along... a procession of ridiculous tramps.
Jumbo did not speak now... simply plodded forward carrying his load.
The sky coloured from the east... purples into pinks.
The rain lost its thickness as the blackness drained away.
My body felt the dawn.
We climbed a style… George and Joey tumbli
ng over in their haste.
We are almost at the bridge said Lijah…
Across the river is the Spinning Field.
We trudged past sleeping sheep… cotton clouds upon green baize.
And then railway tracks that ran behind a foundry.
Clanks and clunks rang out as the chimney stack belched gritty orange flame.
George jumped into Jumbo’s arms.
Joey tried to do the same and they all fell down.
Lijah nudged them to their feet and herded them on.
We came to the bridge.
The Spinning Field said Lijah.
I looked across the river and saw the standing stones…
Like a Titan had been buried and was clawing his way free.
We crossed the bridge and came together inside the circle.
And on the farthest hillside he appeared...
Conducting swarms in silhouette.
They have found us said Lijah.
And so it begins said Jumbo.
The Circle is Safe
The Gassers advanced...
The Nail Maker at their head...
His fingers flashing as he raked the sky.
He stripped his robe…
Revealing a waist-coated suit on the body of a boy.
He whorled it about him… and it pulsed as if alive.
Beating at the air as it strained to stay aloft.
It swirled and then fell back... lifeless on the muddy ground.
The Gassers obliterated it underfoot.
George and Joey hung from Jumbo’s arms…
Joey was crying.
George picked clumsily at the frayed stitching on Jumbo’s coat…
He mumbled into it.
I like Joey Soup and Doggies. I like Joey Soup and Doggies.
The Nail Maker’s voice hurricaned across the field.
Shush Now George!
For you would not like the Doggies here.
He began to growl…his head growing large.
His mouth began to split…like an apple slowly sliced.
That’s not a Good Doggie whimpered George. That’s a very Bad Doggie.
The Nail Maker’s face shrank back… to eyes of flies pushed into pastry.
He SNAPPED his fingers and the Gassers froze.
Another click and they fanned around him.
Preeeesent… screeched the Nail Maker.
They thrust out their tubes of perished rubber… coiled about them from the tanks upon their backs.
Arms!
They crouched in bayonet pose… as if about to charge.
Or should that be Alms said the Nail Maker…
His voice was slow and sleepy…
It slurred then speeded up.
Giving tooo the neeeeeeeedy he said.
Issssn’t thaaaaaat whatitmeans?
And we are sooo needy he said.
Sooooooo very very needy.
Within the circle Jumbo held George and Joey close.
The Nail Maker advanced... prancing.
The Gassers chunked in step… enclosing the circle.
Stay within the stones whispered Jumbo…
The circle is safe.
Lijah bristled… his brethren tight around us.
The Nail Maker darted behind the largest stone.
He popped his head out.
His