Chapter Ten
‘How did we get here?’ exclaimed Rachel.
Toby looked embarrassed. ‘I grabbed a piece from all the jigsaws while I was at it,’ he mumbled. ‘I thought they might come in handy.’
‘Oh my goodness, look.’ Rachel pointed and Toby turned to see the veiled Ming Lee standing there, head bowed.
‘What are we going to do with her?’ he whispered in dismay.
‘It’s okay, I’ve had a really good Idea. Wait here.’
Rachel climbed the steps to the lighthouse and disappeared inside, calling out, ‘Ned, where are you?’
Toby stood uncomfortably on the path by the lighthouse, not knowing what to say to the emperor’s daughter. Fortunately she didn’t appear to expect anyone to say anything, but stood with her head humbly bowed and patiently waited.
To Toby’s relief, Rachel reappeared a few minutes later.
‘Come on,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I’ve told Ned we brought him a wife to cook and clean and keep him company.’
Toby looked as if he had a lot of objections to this but he shook his head in resignation and helped Ming Lee up the stairs. Ned was in the kitchen, which the children were pleased to see was a lot tidier and cleaner than the last time they had seen it.
‘This is Ming Lee,’ said Rachel nervously. ‘She can come and live with you.’
Ned beamed, and taking one of Ming Lee’s hands, he kissed it tenderly. ‘Welcome, my princess,’ he said. Ming Lee threw back her veil and the children gasped. She was the ugliest young woman they had ever seen. Her mouth spread in a crooked grin to reveal at least two missing teeth and one eye had a definite squint.
‘Her father must have been desperate to get rid of her,’ Toby spluttered. ‘I’m glad you held out for the treasure as well.’
Rachel looked a bit uncomfortable at this.
‘Actually, I promised it to Ned for her dowry,’ she confessed.
‘What?’ gasped Toby in outrage.
Fortunately, Ned didn’t seem to mind what Ming Lee looked like. She took one look at the kitchen then she bustled about importantly with pots and pans. Soon the aroma of coffee and fresh cinnamon buns wafted through the lighthouse. Toby decided that Rachel had definitely made the right decision.
‘Let’s at least look at the treasure before we give it away,’ he pleaded.
They opened the box to find that the emperor had cunningly put a shallow layer of gold coins and jewellery on top of an old brick.
‘The old fraud. No wonder it was so heavy,’ muttered Toby. Ming Lee insisted that the children each keep a gold coin, and pressed a twisted gold bracelet into Rachel’s hands, but gave the rest of the treasure to Ned, saying shyly, ‘Please accept this as my humble dowry.’
‘I hope he doesn’t spend it all on whiskey,’ whispered Toby, as he saw the glint in Ned’s eyes at the sight of the gold. Rachel shushed him and told him not to be so pessimistic.
‘They can have a lovely life together now. They were both lonely and unwanted before.’
Ned proudly showed Ming Lee her bedroom, which she viewed with cries of pleasure. She showed a distressing tendency to bow whenever anyone spoke to her but could obviously speak reasonably good English and was not displeased with her new life. Ned also seemed to be happy with his side of the bargain, much to the children’s relief.
At low tide Toby and Rachel ran along the sand bar, with Rachel clutching a piece of puzzle in her hand. With a jolt they found themselves outside the row of old fashioned shops.
‘What have we come here for?’ Toby asked.
‘I feel so bad about Spike taking those sausages, that I’m going to pay back the butcher,’ said Rachel firmly.
She marched up the footpath into the butcher’s shop, where she deposited her gold coin on the counter. Toby went unwillingly with her.
‘That’s far too much money for a string of sausages,’ he protested.
‘You spend yours on whatever you like then,’ said Rachel. Toby didn’t hesitate. He walked into the toyshop and gathered up armfuls of toys. Bats, balls, skipping ropes and hoops were soon all piled up on the counter. This impressive gesture was spoiled somewhat when Toby had to ask Rachel for the rest of her change to help pay for it all. Then they carried it all outside onto the footpath where they distributed it to the small boys and girls who had been looking longingly in through the window.
‘There. Now they’ll all have something to play with,’ he said in satisfaction. Rachel laughed and they stayed and joined in games with the children until the train puffed past.
‘Come on,’ she said to Toby, as all the children scattered home for their dinners. They walked to the railway bridge, which seemed to be even further away this time. Toby noticed with pleasure that he wasn’t feeling even slightly tired. As they crossed the bridge, a bump landed them in front of the castle gates.
‘I’m dreading this bit,’ confessed Rachel. ‘What if everyone is still really cross with me and the mother dragon is angry.’
‘Let’s get it over with,’ said Toby bravely, and together they stepped through the gate into the courtyard. Today the courtyard was nearly empty. A few old men stood in the sun and discussed the weather while a couple of dogs argued lazily over a well-chewed bone. A group of men played a game with dice in the middle and a couple of young girls were chattering together and stitching samplers in the light beneath one of the long windows. No one took any notice of Toby and Rachel. They climbed the staircase to the dragon’s tower and soon heard the familiar humming sound.
‘It sounds just like Spike, only louder,’ whispered Toby.
‘Let’s tiptoe in and leave the bracelet there as an exchange for Spike. It’s made of gold and has diamonds and rubies and stuff on it so it must be worth heaps,’ Rachel murmured, and Toby nodded in agreement. They carefully entered the tower room where a dozen or more dragons, even tinier than Spike had been, were swarming around their sleeping mother. As the children entered the room the dragons squeaked in excitement. They ran over to pull at Rachel’s shoelaces and scramble around Toby’s legs. Rachel took a step and tripped. She fell with a thump to the floor. As she tried to get up, pushing away the dragons gently, the mother dragon opened a large yellow eye and stared at her.
‘Er, I’ve brought you a present,’ said Rachel nervously, as she scrambled to her feet. Toby prudently backed out the door. Rachel reached into her pocket and held out the gold bracelet to the dragon. The dragon sat up and Rachel and Toby were surprised to see that with her wings folded she was about the size of a cow. The dragon reached out a claw and delicately hooked the bracelet out of Rachel’s hand. She slipped it over one scaly wrist and twisted it around with her head on one side. She evidently liked what she saw, for to Toby and Rachel’s relief she lay down again, sweeping an arm out to scoop up her babies and tuck them under her wing.
‘Let’s go while we can,’ said Rachel, and she and Toby ran quickly down the steps before the dragon could change her mind. They went out the gate and this time turned the other way as Rachel said she couldn’t bear the thought of the river.
‘Anyway we sank the boat last time,’ she pointed out.
To their relief there was a small stone foot-bridge not far from the castle and Toby and Rachel walked across it.
‘Do you suppose we can do this anytime we want to? Go into the jigsaw pictures, I mean.’ Rachel asked Toby.
‘I don’t know,’ said Toby. ‘You tell me. You’re the expert on magic and fairy tales.’
They landed on the back lawn with a bump to hear Aunt Phoebe calling from the house.
‘Toby, Toby. Quick. It’s your mother phoning.’
Toby raced inside while Rachel followed more slowly.
She placed the last pieces into the puzzles in the sunroom, and to her satisfaction saw Spike lying contentedly in the sunshine on the steps of the palace on the willow pattern plate. In the lighthouse jigsaw, Ming Lee and Ned stood arm in arm on the balcony. The shop picture was swarming with
children playing with balls, skipping ropes and hoops. The castle picture was the same, but a wisp of smoke from one of the towers showed where the dragon was sleeping. Rachel went into the hallway in time to hear Toby replying to his mother’s question.
‘I’m fine Mum. In fact, this is the best holiday I have ever had.’ He grinned at Rachel, who began to smile back when a look of horror spread over her face. Toby lifted an inquiring eyebrow at her as she pointed to his pocket, where the head of a tiny baby dragon peeped out before wriggling down to sleep with a contented sigh.
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