“The sudden click which followed was like a breaking twig, seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Next thing I knew the door was swinging wide! The room beyond was engulfed in the strange green glow and a figure moved in its depths! The little girl's father! He came to the opening and watched us cringing by the corridor wall. He gave a slight nod in our direction, turned back inside, and sat down heavily on a rusty bunk fixed to the slab wall along the back of the cell. The place reeked of rot and darkness, even now as the green glow pulsed around him. There was a nest of coiled chains on the floor at his feet.
“I found the man staring deeply into my eyes. A trickle of fingers seemed to tickle my brain. And then he spoke. 'My little friends,' he said very carefully, as if he didn't want to alarm us any more than he already had. 'You've come. I wondered if you would. I thought I felt something inside the Church but I was not sure.' It was then I noticed that though he spoke, his lips did not move.
“He reached into his shirt pocket and flicked a rain of bread crumbs down onto the damp floor. He watched sadly as we made quick work of this offering. Then he said, 'My pretty ones, so you've come to save me.' And smiled.
“It is hard to recall what came next. Perhaps it was our first experience in a time knot. Regardless, both the mouse and I were swept away in the rush of story he told us.
Chapter 14: The Magician's Tale
“'My little girl and I were kidnapped,' he said in that deep, wrapping gloom. 'The Fat Man and his hooligans were lying in wait for us as soon as we disembarked from the ship. You see, I am the one who bargained for the land this Church sits upon. I knew Madame DeBorque. I also knew her husband, and I sorely misjudged him. And for this miscalculation my daughter suffers. It quite drives me mad. I don't know where they've taken her, though, and that is the only reason I'm still here. These chains were useless. And so was that,' he added, pointing to the heavy door now swung wide in the corridor. His lips began to quiver. He put his hands over his eyes and there was nothing more for a long time. By this I mean that nothing else came to my mind. Nothing but a low hum.
“He finally looked up and continued his story in a slow jumble of images that painted his history as effortlessly as if he'd been whispering them in my ear. I witnessed some sort of argument with a crowd of men in fine clothes, and then a hasty packing of items one would need on a long journey. Next an endless stretch of water, of troubled seas, as the two huddled in the dark, him comforting the little girl as storms raged without. Then there were drifting images of the two leaving a ship and meeting another group of men. The Fat Man was not among their number, but I did notice him hovering in the background, far up in a curtained window a stone's throw from the commons. And next, a more sinister meeting in some other unidentifiable location. I recognized a few of the hooligans from the Church and the raving Fat Man in a large, dark room. When, through an equally dark door, the little girl was led in I watched her father collapse to the floor. He begged the Fat Man to leave his daughter alone, to let them settle the affair as men. The last part of the vision was of the two being pushed and dragged through the forest undergrowth, the Church glimpsed occasionally through the trees. Then the stream of memory stopped, and I was left to gap into the darkness, hearing nothing but the man's slow, tortured breath. His eyes were swollen and glazed.
“I could not help myself. In fact, I did not comprehend my action until it was done. I suddenly jumped from the floor and landed on his knee. He put a hand to my beak and I watched as a crumb of bread suddenly appeared between his fingertips. And when he addressed me this time, his lips moved and I could understand every word! And it's since been like that to this very day.
“He told me he'd had every intention of dealing with the woman but had learned of her death upon his arrival. Something he hadn't been aware of in France. A curious circumstance since most times, he told me, he could see things that had happened or were about to happen. He could escape chains. He could open locked doors. He could talk to animals and birds. But he'd failed his daughter. It was heart wrenching. Unforgivable, he said sadly. For in addition to being some sort of businessman he was in truth, foremost, a magician. It was this information that the Fat Man had only recently learned, and by the time of their first meeting he'd already decided to abandon the timber enterprise. Too much work for too little profit.
“Here's the thing. The Fat Man had heard rumors that a large pirate's treasure was hidden somewhere in the region. He pictured untold wealth at a minimum of effort, especially if he could get someone else to find it. He'd hired the hooligans. He'd set up the Church as the base of operations. And then, of course, all that was left to do was kidnap the magician and his daughter and hold them until the man saw fit to sniff out what the Fat Man wanted.
“The magician, on the other hand, told us he had no idea where or even if such a thing even existed. Magic didn't necessarily work like that, he let us know. It was highly complicated and sometimes dangerous, but it was not something to be trifled with. By this time there were questions budding on my tongue but I had no idea how to actually communicate with this strange man. In the end I simply opened my beak and began chirping away.
“I pressed him on why he didn't just leave, for surely, if he possessed the power to lead us to his cell, he could just as easily search out his daughter. He just smiled sadly and shook his head. He said there were certain things he could do and others that he could not. Many times, in fact, the very thing he searched out would be the very thing which eluded him. And the more frantic a search, the more the doors in his mind locked tight. He knew searching the tunnels would be fruitless since the men had taken his daughter away. He did not tell me how he knew this and I did not offer what I'd seen. And as far as going after her...?
“'Little bird,' he said 'I do not go after her because I will not find her. The Fat Man is lazy but he is also cunning. But his hunger for the treasure will keep her safe, I believe. I have to wait until their return and somehow convince them I can do this thing he proposes.'
“Why then, I asked, had he led us here? What was the purpose in that? A bird and a mouse against magic and men. It was preposterous. He just shook his head and kept smiling down sadly. Finally he said, 'I'm really not sure, little bird. Perhaps it was only because I needed the company...” He leaned forward and whispered as if binding us together in conspiracy. 'Also, I require some acorns from the oak which I saw growing in the Church. I hope you will be kind enough to bring them to me.'
Chapter 15: The Oak
“I will not go through the details of our departure from the tunnels. Suffice to say we left the same as we entered, chasing the tail of that mysterious green mist. The magician, of course, refused to come, and on our leaving was once again sitting with his head in his hands, staring off into whatever dim future he could perceive.
“We made good time going back and when we finally stood before the partially-opened door that led into the Church, the mouse was panting horribly. It was then I realized how filthy we'd gotten in the tunnels, we were dirt and dust from head to claw! Peeking around the door jamb, I found the Church empty, and from the radically different cast of light through the stained-glass, I realized we'd been gone longer than I expected.
“The mouse scrambled out ahead of me, glad to be free of the dank corridors. She hurried directly to a small pool of light on the floor and laid out, arms and legs outstretched, soaking up the warmth we had frightfully missed in the tunnels. I, too, hopped out of the darkness as fast as I could; for the first time, truly aware of the bone-deep cold that had ruled below. A great shivering overtook me. In dread, I recalled what the magician had asked of me. I would have to go back. There it was, suddenly admitted.
“The mouse soon rose from the floor and without another look in my direction, headed off for the crack in the wall that led up to the ledge. I determined not to tell her of my plans. She had risked her life, perhaps senselessly, for my mad venture and I would not willingly place her in such danger agai
n.
“I looked back at the open door. The hooligans would suspect foul play, or perhaps, magic. There was nothing I could do. I only hoped the little girl was okay. And it was as I was standing there thinking these thoughts that I heard the great creak of grinding hinges and watched as the massive door slowly swung shut with a flat, hollow bang. So, he was indeed powerful. How much so I had no clue...” and the crow paused as the boys looked on from their stump. They sensed something hidden but neither would mention the fact.
The bird continued, “Perched on the first row of pews I took to studying the oak. It had grown amazingly fast since I'd first seen it. Already it had split the floor and riser in three wide cracks that ran out from the lair's entrance. The trunk had lipped over these ragged edges and forced the planks even farther apart so that the closest ones were buckled. I also saw the place where the branch had been broken had all but healed. But this frantic push through the floor had seemed to unbalanced the tree a bit. Limbs now twisted and curled out of every nook and cranny, each one bursting with new buds, and the bark had rolled and folded upon itself, forming scales as hard as turtle shells close to the floor. I could almost hear the faint squeak of stretching fibers within the branches. I could smell the sweet, heavy sap running powerfully through its arteries, and then another wonder! Clusters of small budding acorns dotting the ends and creases of every limb! I stood, enraptured, as the rest of the day passed into memory with scarcely a realized moment.
“I must have dozed because it was full night when I regained my senses. A numbing silence gripped the Church. The moonlight cast a pale, milky shade across the liquid darkness. I left the pew and hopped closer to the oak, glancing underneath pews as I passed them and straining my eyes into every corner as I went. I soon found a change had overtaken the tree. In the course of those few short hours the tiny acorn buds had grown to size! How had he known? Or, perhaps, how had he fixed it? But these vexing questions were useless. For surely time was short if even Nature had chosen to speed itself along like this! The thought of the tunnels snaking below brought on a fresh wave of dread, but my course was clear. And so resigned to my fate, at that very moment I caught the first, faint impression of the green mist as it began to leak underneath the ever-widening crack in the heavy door that led back down into the tunnels.
Chapter 16: Near Disaster
“There was nothing left to do except grab the acorns. I studied the many clusters near my beak, amazed to find each one a mirror of all the others! All uniform, perfect, no cluster larger or smaller than another. Weird. I felt the familiar rush of that quiet fear and I knew if I dilly-dallied much longer my courage, or foolishness as I now saw it, would bend me in another direction. I snatched a small cluster loose and headed for the door.
“The journey back to the magician's cell passed without event and very quickly. Perhaps it was merely that I didn't pause and question the intelligence of going on like I had before. No, now I was only satisfying a promise I'd made and the sooner done, the better. I was also terrified the men would return. I could almost feel them like a part of myself.
“It wasn't long before I stood in front of that ponderously heavy door in the tunnels. It was tightly shut as before, and no light issued from beneath the tiny crack at the floor line. At first I thought the mist had led me astray and I stood there fretting about all the many things I could fit inside my head, fearing the magician would be dead and that his mission was all for nothing.
“The familiar dry click of the lock stopped me in this line of thought, and I watched the door swing back on its huge, rusty hinges. Seconds later I saw the magician. He was completely enchained. His arms, legs, across his chest; there was even a giant clasp secured firmly about his neck! He gently clapped his hands together, beckoning me. What passed between us then was simply unworldly. No words or sounds really, nothing that could remotely pass as language. Just a mutual understanding. The magician convinced me of these hidden things that fly in the face of common sense. Things I believe you boys can pull off with hardly a second thought.
“He took the acorns and tucked them away in a fold of his pants. 'Thank you, little bird,' he whispered. 'But you should have waited.' It was only then that I put two-and-two together. The chains, his frantic expression. He was expecting them! His eyes verified as much and without another thought I scuttled out of the room. Fleeing down the dripping corridor, I heard the massive door slam shut. I was once again alone. Making a mad dash back for the Church door. I'd hardly made the landing of the final turn when I heard their familiar, horrible laughter! They were already inside! And me so close!
“I pressed flat against the wall and sidled down to where the light leaked in from the opened door. The voices getting louder all the time. I could make out a wild flickering of orange just ahead. In two hops I'd be at the threshold. I thought I heard the little girl crying and inched forward. Looked out through the door into the Church. It was no comfort. There were three of them at least, though the voices were hard to pinpoint. Torches kept the shadows leaping about me.
“I saw two alternatives, neither of them very promising. One, I could stay down near the wall and hope in the darkness no one spotted me. Given that the green mist still clung about me, I didn't place too much hope in that direction. Two, I could bolt through the door and pray my wings would carry me to safety. The men were already near the pulpit, seconds from the door! No time to think! And I realized I really had but one choice, and hiding here was not it. Their slapping footsteps came around the first row of pews.
“It was then I did the craziest thing of my life.
“I darted across the threshold into plain view! To this day I do not know why. The plan I'd had consisted of sticking as close to the wall as possible and trying to sneak out while they were otherwise engaged. Nothing in my mind had suggested simply leaping from the darkness with the last, faint traces of the mist still clinging around me! Immediately I registered the concern on their faces over the open door. And my sudden appearance only bumped them from concerned to absolutely astonished. Blocking my passage was the biggest and ugliest of the lot. His bloodshot, pig-eyes rolled back into something as close to surprise as his numb brain could manage, and while we stood there, eying each other in silence, he turned and yelled something over his shoulder. Seconds later, too late by just a little, did I see what he actually meant to do. He kicked the door closed and I tried to jump free.
“I didn't make it.
Chapter 17: The Magician's Last Help
“We're nearing the end,” the crow croaked a bit sadly. “And still you have no idea why I've subjected you to such a long and twisted tale. For that, I'm thankful for this time knot, and I'm also thankful for your patience and attention. Listen,” it said. “We're almost done.
“The pain was like stars exploding because you see, the man had slammed back the door and it had taken me all the way to the jamb where my claw was crushed. I came to on the cold, musty-smelling floor a few feet from the yawning tunnel door. Gulping like a fish breaking the surface of a pond, coming into a world that is completely outside its comprehension. The first thing I saw was the green mist pulsing stronger than ever. I was completely engulfed now, it having grown so thick around me it was as if sparkling cobwebs filled the air. The second thing I saw was the whole group of men frozen in place, captured in the magician's web like the insects they were. All staring sightless, rooted in place as if their feet had frozen through the floor. The little girl included, two hairy arms gripping her tightly. And as I was ensnared in this strange phantom of a dream, I moved with the same syrupy, sluggishness that you often find in such places. Everywhere was absolute silence. I pushed myself upright on my good claw noticing suddenly how cold the air was. The last breath each man had breathed was ghostly-white and trapped in a fuzzy cloud before his face, but mine continued to stream out in tight little gasps.
“There was nothing to be done as far as saving the girl. I had to get away. But every time I inched forward my c
law jarred in agony and stars burst in my eyes. I made for the crack in the wall, even then feeling the mist thinning before me. Mere inches away from safety I heard a startled shout from behind and went down, sprawling against the thick baseboard. I pushed inside and crawled as far back into the hole as I could. Then I used my good claw and my beak, pulling and tugging myself up through the space in the wall to the ledge above.
“I fell into the mouse's chamber in such a terror she had to pin me to the floor. She could not calm me. Eventually I slipped into a weird, seemingly hypnotic, state (she said) that she could not rouse me out of. The next thing I knew I was lying close to a tiny splash of light near one of the stained-glass windows. The pain was still unbearable and I was only dimly aware that she had wrapped the claw with strips of bandage covered with a sticky sap she hoarded for cuts and bruises. It did very little if anything.
“I developed a fever. Nightmares overtook reality. Within the cold confines of that pain I would suddenly find myself lost in the snaking tunnels below the Church, crying out to the magician to no avail. And all the while searching through those terrible corridors, the mist becoming dimmer and thinner until the darkness was almost complete. As each second passed I felt myself getting weaker. Finally I was alone in the darkness, blind and paralyzed as the walls closed around me. During one of the worst of these phantoms, I began to hear a voice coaxing me from the darkness. I gradually became aware of the mouse's presence before me, patting my head with a wet cloth. She told me something terrible was in the air,that I needed to pull myself together.
“As reality replaced the stuff of nightmare, I stumbled through an explanation of what had happened. I told her about the oak, the acorns, the magician's request. I finally got around to the disaster at the Church door and the weird circumstance that had allowed my escape. But as I told her these things I slowly melted under her terrified gaze, and I knew there was something worse.