The two tailors fell to their knees begging for mercy, weeping and snivelling. Matilda
whispered in the Emperor’s ear.
“How appropriate,” he said with a smile.
The next day the streets were crowded with the Emperor’s loyal subjects, waiting for the parade.
At last the trumpeters announced that the parade was about to begin. As the people leaned forward they saw the two tailors walking down the street with no clothes on at all and a small fairy flying behind, poking them along with her wand. The rogues were crying and looking very, very embarrassed. Behind them came the Emperor’s carriage with the Emperor dressed in his best robes, waving to the people – and, sitting beside him, were Matilda and the six children, looking very proud.
After the parade, the two tailors were taken to the border of the Empire and told never to return.
At last Matilda said goodbye to the Emperor.
“Without wanting to be rude, Your Majesty,” she said, “perhaps it would be best if you didn’t let your pride make decisions for you in the future.”
“Very wise, my dear. I understand completely. I hope I shall see you again soon,” replied the Emperor, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
“I don’t think so,” thought Matilda and whispered, “Peri.”
The little fairy appeared on her shoulder. They ducked behind a column and Peri waved her wand. The Story Mat appeared and dropped to the floor. Matilda was soon on her way back home.
After storing the carpet under her bed, Matilda put “The Emperor’s New Clothes” back on her bookshelf. She waited for Peri to fly to the bedside table and hop into the drawer before joining her parents in the kitchen, where they both had their heads stuck in books.
“Racing upstairs and then back downstairs in two minutes,” commented her mother. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” replied Matilda. “I’m just bored.”
“And donkeys might dance,” said her father for no reason at all.
Chapter 9
Book # 3
Matilda was feeling a little tired after her adventure with the Emperor and his new clothes so she felt that the third book had better be a short one. The next day, she ran her hand along the shelves, looking for a suitable story. Her hand stopped on “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” and she decided that this story was exactly what she needed.
Taking the book down from the shelf, she went over to her bed and pulled out the Story Mat. After Peri had flown onto her shoulder and she had followed all of the procedures, she felt the Story Mat lift off and speed through the atmosphere. She really enjoyed the sensation of the wind rushing through her hair and tickling her nose.
At last the Story Mat settled on the ground and Matilda opened her eyes. She was in a small valley surrounded by green hills. There was a rushing stream below with a wooden bridge across it.
And there, in the meadow, were the Three Billy Goats Gruff. They seemed to be having an argument and, as Matilda walked towards them, she could hear their conversation.
“Of course the grass on the other side of the bridge is greener,” said Big Bill Goat Gruff, the biggest of the three.
“But not green enough to be eaten for,” said Little Billy Goat Gruff, the smallest of the group.
“We can all rush across the bridge before the Troll can catch us. We’re very fast,” offered Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff.
“Yes,” said Little Billy Goat Gruff in a frightened voice, “but the Troll is faster.”
“Well, I know I can get across the bridge,” stated Big Billy Goat Gruff, with a smirk on his face.
“I’m not afraid of the Troll, so bad luck for you two. I’ll go on my own.”
“That’s very selfish!” stated Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff. “You always look after yourself first. We can’t help it if we’re smaller than you.”
“You never take care of us,” moaned Little Billy Goat Gruff. “And big brothers are supposed to look after the smaller ones. Aren’t they?”
“Why should I miss out on the best food just because you’re too scared to face up to the Troll?’ asked Big Billy Goat Gruff.
“Ahem,” Matilda interrupted. “Perhaps I can help you.”
The Three Billy Goats Gruff swung around together in surprise.
“And who may you be?” growled Big Billy Goat Gruff with a huge frown.
“A friend,” said Matilda, thinking, “Here we go again.”
“How could a little girl like you possibly help us with the Troll?” sneered Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff.
“Well,” said Matilda, trying to think of something quickly, “I suppose I could try talking to him first.”
The Three Billy Goats Gruff began laughing and rolling on the grass.
“Where have I seen this before?” thought Matilda. “Nobody seems to think I have any ability at all.” But she said, “I can only try.”
The Billy Goats Gruff looked at her in astonishment.
“Are you serious,” asked Little Billy Goat Gruff.
“Well, it would be interesting to watch,” said Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff.
“And maybe, after eating her, the Troll will let us pass,” said selfish Big Billy Goat Gruff. “Very well,” he continued, “you trot down to the bridge and have a nice little chat with the Troll. We’ll wait here to see how you go. Does that sound fair?”
“Not really,” answered Matilda, “but I am willing to talk to the Troll on your behalf.”
“Down you go then. ‘Bye,” said Big Billy Goat Gruff with a sly grin.
Matilda walked down the slope to the bridge. She was beginning to feel that she was making a big mistake.
“Hello,” she whispered from the edge of the bridge. There was no reply so she said it again, in a louder voice, “Hello!”
A rumbling sound and a huge burp came from the stream below the bridge, then a terrible voice bellowed, “Who dares approach my bridge?”
“Er, it’s me, Mr Troll,” said Matilda nervously. “My name is Matilda. I’ve come to talk to you about getting across the bridge.”
“Getting across the bridge?!” roared the voice. “Never! I’ll eat anybody who tries to cross my bridge. Show yourself, little girl.”
Matilda took a few steps so that she was looking over the edge of the bridge and down at the stream. Below she saw the most horrible sight. A huge, ugly Troll was leaning against the bridge supports and he was surrounded by bones from animals that he had eaten. Matilda was frozen to the spot by the sight of so much cruelty and, before she knew what was happening, the Troll had leapt up and grabbed her by the arm. He was very fast for such a huge body and he dragged her down to the stream.
“Yum,” he growled, licking his fat, greasy lips. “I haven’t eaten a human for years. This will be special.” And he pulled Matilda towards his mouth.
“Peri,” she whispered with her eyes closed to shut off the sight of the Troll’s gaping mouth, and holding her nose so she couldn’t smell its foul breath. The fairy immediately appeared on her shoulder and waved her wand. It took a strong burst of the wand’s power to stop the Troll but he was frozen to the spot before he could harm Matilda. . She wriggled free of his grasp and scrambled up the bank.
“Be quick,” Peri told her. “The Troll was so strong he used up most of my wand’s power. He’ll be back to his old self in a few minutes.” The fairy flew to Matilda's shoulder and disappeared.
“Great!” muttered Matilda. “That’s just what I needed to hear.” She ran as fast as she could up the hill until she was out of breath.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff had shocked expressions on their faces.
“We thought you were a goner,” said Little Billy Goat Gruff.
“I nearly was,” replied Matilda. There was a loud roar from below the bridge signalling that the Troll was back in action.
“There goes Plan A,” said Matilda.
“I’ll have to think up another approach.” She was thinking of the story as she had read it. “Maybe we should just stick to the script this time.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Big Billy Goat Gruff.
“Well,” said Matilda, knowing that she couldn’t tell the Billy Goats Gruff how the story went, “I have an idea that the Troll is very greedy, so here’s what we’ll do.” And she explained the new plan.
“That’s all very well for you,” shouted Little Billy Goat Gruff, “but why should I go first? The Troll will probably eat me up in the blink of an eye.”
“You have to cross the bridge first or the plan won’t work,” explained Matilda impatiently.
“And here’s what you have to say to the Troll.” She told Little Billy Goat Gruff exactly what to say.
“Then Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff will follow you and say the same thing,” she continued. “It’s the only way to get all three of you across safely.”
She looked at Big Billy Goat Gruff. “Are you sure you can handle the Troll yourself?”
“Of course I am,” he declared, shaking his huge horns.
“Very well,’ said Matilda. “Let’s go.”
Little Billy Goat Gruff dawdled down the hill, shaking in his hooves. When he reached the bridge he started to go across. The Troll jumped up from below and growled, “Who dares to cross my bridge?”
“I’m Little Billy Goat Gruff,” replied the goat in a shaky voice, “and I wish to get to the other side.”
“I’ll eat you before I’ll let you cross,” rumbled the Troll.
“But sir,” said the goat, “I am such a small meal. My brother, who is much bigger, will try to cross the bridge if he sees that I am successful, and he will make a much tastier and larger dinner for you.”
“Mm-m-m,” thought the greedy Troll. “Very well, you may pass.” And he slipped below the bridge again as Little Billy Goat Gruff trotted across to the other side with a huge sigh.
Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff then walked down to the bridge and, as he stepped onto the bridge, the Troll appeared from below. “Who dares to cross my bridge?” he roared.
“'Tis I, Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff, Mr Troll,” said the goat, “and I wish to get to the other side.”
“I’ll munch you into little pieces before I let you cross,” screamed the Troll.
“But sir,” said the goat, “my brother, who is on the hill over there, is much, much bigger than I am and would be a more fitting meal for such a large person as yourself. If he sees me cross the bridge, he will try to cross too, and you can have what you deserve.”
The Troll looked up at Big Billy Goat Gruff and he began to dribble with the thought of eating him.
“Very well, you may cross,” he said and dropped down again. Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff walked across the bridge with a smile.
Matilda saw that the plan was working but, as she turned towards Big Billy Goat Gruff, she saw that she had a problem. The goat, who had spoken so bravely about easily handling the Troll, was shaking all over.
“Is something wrong?” she asked him.
Big Billy Goat Gruff simply nodded his head. “I can't do it,” he squeaked nervously.
“But you said you could,” insisted Matilda.
“I know,” mumbled the goat, bowing his head, “but I only said that because my little brothers were here and I didn't want them to think I was a coward. But I am.”
“No, you are not a coward,” declared Matilda and, thinking quickly, added, “You're just . . . er . . . sensibly cautious. Of course you can defeat the Troll . . . and being nervous is only natural.”
Billy Goat 1 looked up at her. “You really think so?”
“Definitely!” shouted Matilda. “Nervousness gives you extra strength so it's good that you're nervous. All you need now is to believe in yourself. Of course you can do it. Now repeat it after me:
I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.”
Big Billy Goat Gruff lifted his head proudly and repeated, “I can do it! I can do it! I can do it.”
He felt power surge through his body and he continued the chant as he strutted down towards the the bridge and the terrible Troll.
By now the Troll was impatient and he jumped up onto the bridge before the goat had stepped onto it.
“Who dares to cross my bridge?” he shouted.
“Big Billy Goat Gruff,” the goat shouted back. “I can do it. Yes, I can!” he whispered to himself.
With those words, Big Billy Goat Gruff lowered his huge horns and charged the Troll. The monster had never been challenged before and the surprise stopped him moving quickly enough. The goat’s horns struck him in the middle of his fat tummy and he was thrown high into the air. As he came down, Big Billy Goat Gruff turned around and kicked the Troll back into the air with his back legs. The fatally injured monster was thrown over the side of the bridge and into the rushing stream below. Several hours later the stream washed him out to sea, never to be seen again.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff let out a large cheer. They stood on their hind legs and waved to Matilda. Then they began grazing on the lush green grass.
Matilda whispered, “Peri”, and, when the little fairy appeared, said, “I hope there’s enough power left in that wand of yours to fetch the Story Mat.”
“Just enough,” said Peri, and waved it in the air.
The Story Mat unrolled itself in front of them and Matilda climbed aboard. She was almost asleep as the carpet sped towards home.
“So much for a shorter adventure,” she thought.
By the time she had stored the Story Mat and freshened up in the bathroom, she heard her mother shout from the kitchen, “Matilda! Time for afternoon tea.” After seeing Peri safely into the drawer she walked sleepily down to join her parents.
“You look tired,” commented her mother, “and you’ve been doing nothing.”
“Yes, that’s right,” agreed Matilda. “It must be all the excitement of the new house.”
“And wombats might whistle,” commented her father from behind his book.
Chapter 10
Found Out?
Germany had always fascinated Matilda; the cobbled streets of ancient towns; the pretty houses with flowered balconies; the castles atop wooded hillsides; the rushing mountain streams. So it was no surprise that she chose “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” as her next book.
When she burst through the front door the next day, she didn’t notice that her parents weren’t there with their heads buried in books. In fact they weren’t to be seen. Matilda jumped up the stairs to her bedroom, pulled the book from a shelf and reached under the bed for the Story Mat. She had just unrolled it, and was about to summon Peri, when she heard her father’s voice from behind her.
“Where did you get that carpet?” his voice rumbled.
Standing beside him was her mother.
“We thought you must be hiding something,” she said, “the way you rushed up to your room every afternoon without a word to anybody.”
“Very suspicious behaviour,” added her father.
Matilda was stunned. “Where did you come from?” she asked in a weak voice.
“We were hiding behind the curtains,” her father informed her.
Matilda was in a dither. She couldn’t let her parents know the truth – yet. She had to bluff them.
“You were spying on me?” she cried. “My own parents spying on me? How horrible can things get?”
“Well . . . er . . . not really . . . spying,” answered her father going red in the face. “More . . . er . . . interested. Wouldn’t you agree, mother?”
“Humm . . . er . . . yes,” agreed her mother. “We were worried about you with the strange way you’ve been behaving.”
“Well you could have asked me,” said Matilda with a fierce look on her face. “You didn’t have to hide behind curtains. Don?
??t you trust me any more?”
“Of course we do,” said her mother. “It was just that you were acting so strangely and . . . ”
“Anyway,” her father interrupted, “where did this carpet come from? Obviously this is what you’ve been rushing up to your room for.”
“I found it in the . . . ,” began Matilda before she stopped herself from blurting out the truth. She didn’t want to lie to her parents but Maximilian’s warning about not letting anybody else know about the Story Mat came to her mind. “ . . . the cupboard in the hall. I really liked it so I thought it would look good in my room. Sort of Egyptian.”
“Then why did you hide it under your bed?” asked her mother, raising one eyebrow.
Matilda had to think quickly. “I thought you might take it to put in the lounge room,” she exclaimed, then added, “I take it out every night to lie on while I read and I wanted to keep it.
It’s very special to me.” Which was the truth.
“Mm-m-m,” said her father. “Very well. You can keep the carpet here if it helps you with your reading.”
“Oh, it does. It certainly does,” gushed Matilda.
“But don’t stay up too late reading, dear,” said her mother. “You need your rest too.” And she gave Matilda a kiss.
Her father leaned down and gave her a kiss and a hug as well. With that they went downstairs to resume their reading.
Matilda let out a huge sigh of relief. She didn’t like fibbing to her parents but she hoped that she would be able to tell them the truth when her adventures were over. At least now there wouldn’t be any need to hide the Story Mat under the bed. With a huge sigh she called up Peri.
“That was a close one,” commented the little fairy.
“Yes,” agreed Matilda and, placing the “Pied Piper of Hamelin” story on the mat, said, “We'd better get going while the going's good.”
Chapter 11
Book #4
The first thing Matilda saw when the Story Mat landed was a large rat.
It stared at her, wiggled its whiskers, then scurried off down a drain. She was in an alley behind tall buildings. When she looked up she was shocked to see hundreds of rats scampering and darting along the ledges of the houses, over balconies and across roofs. The frightened faces of the residents could be seen behind the windows. The city of Hamelin was infested with thousands of rats.