Dance of the Stones (17 page)

“THEN SAVE OUR TREES!” came the shouts while the band loudly played “We Shall Overcome.”

*   *   *

With a squeal of rage, the wild boar erupted from the bracken and appeared at the top of the bank. The dirt overhang gave way beneath him. In a mini landslide, the boar slithered down and landed half-dazed in the middle of the road.

The troop captain acted instinctively. “Circle enemy!” he roared.

With a single movement the riot troops pushed their visors in place, lowered their shields to the ground and made an impenetrable wall around the confused boar.

The protesters applauded and the TV cameras rolled.

With a gesture of resignation the county councillor hauled out his cell phone and requested a vet and tranquilizer darts.

Holly stuck her head through the leaves. “So, are you going to call it quits now?” she called.

Everyone looked up.

“Who the heck are you?” called the councillor.

“Holly and Adam. We're doing a sit-in.”

Adam's face appeared. “We're not coming down until you promise to save the trees.”

Cheers and applause erupted.

The councillor groaned as the TV crew zoomed in. He'd been told never to compete for publicity with kids and dogs, and now he had kids and a wild boar. He was toast!

“I've researched a really good reason why you shouldn't cut the trees,” called Holly. “And now there's another.” She pointed down to the wild boar, which was trying to gore a hole in a riot shield. “That's a rare animal and this is its natural habitat. I think it should be protected.”

“You're a smart kid,” called out an approving voice.

A microphone was poked up toward Holly. “And what's this research you've done, young lady?” asked the grinning TV reporter.

“Well,” said Holly, “my dad told me that Savernake Forest was a royal forest so I looked it up in the museum. It's still a royal forest. The ancient laws say a man can be hanged for cutting down trees without royal assent.” Holly looked down at the councillor. “Did you ask the queen?” she inquired.

“I cannot answer that question without checking with council,” he muttered as he slid into the back of his car.

“Drive,” he exhorted his chauffeur.

Doug Metcalfe checked the brakes on his bulldozer and climbed down from the cab. “I reckon my boss will want to wait to see if I'm liable to be hanged.” He grinned and waved to the policeman. “Hey, Dan, going to give me a lift back?”

The band swung into a familiar tune.

“For she's a jolly good fellow,” warbled the crowd.

*   *   *

“Blessings,” rustled the Mother Tree. “Holly, you have earned the mistletoe bough.” She bent down the branch so Holly could snap it off.

“Hold out your hand, Adam.”

Adam obeyed and an acorn dropped into his palm.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Use it against the wraith. Then bury it,” instructed the Mother Tree. “And cleanse your mind of its wickedness. Earth Magic will not fail this time.”

“And Ava and the Wise Ones?” asked Holly urgently.

“Can you do anything to help them?”

“Dark and light,” murmured the Mother Tree. “The dark is always blackest before the light shines again. Go in peace, young saplings. May your leaves be ever green.”

11.
THE DANCE OF THE STONES

The TV crew loaded the bikes in the rear of the van and drove Holly and Adam back to Avebury.

Lynne stood in the doorway, her nails tapping the doorframe. Holly and Adam exchanged a glance.

“Uh oh,” whispered Adam.

The explanations and introductions were a little tense.

“We'd like to film an interview with Holly and Adam in the museum,” the reporter explained to Lynne. “That's where Holly found the information about royal assent.”

Lynne nodded shortly. “They'll be along in a minute.” She watched while the TV crew left to set up its equipment, then turned and fixed a steely eye on the children. “As soon as the interview is completed, Holly, you and Adam meet with me in the kitchen. I'll be waiting.” She turned to Owen and Chantel. “You come too.” She entered the kitchen. The door swung to with a slight bang.

“I warned you,” breathed Holly. “There'll be a row. We'll be grounded.” She followed the TV crew toward the museum.

Chantel looked miserable. “I hate it when people scream.”

“Oh, she won't scream,” Holly said. “She goes all quiet and reasonable. It's worse!”

Owen thumped the nearest wall. “None of this has anything to do with me,” he muttered.

Adam grabbed his arm. “Owen.” He looked around for Chantel and beckoned her over. “If we're going to be grounded, you two have to do something quick. Holly and I will be with the TV crew.” He held out the new acorn. “Go to the manor gardens, say the words of power and throw this at the thing that was after Chantel,” he whispered rapidly. “When it's an acorn again, bury it. That's what the Mother Tree said to do.”

Owen shook his head. “Not me. Forget it.”

Chantel bit her lip. “I'm not going on my own. What if something goes wrong?”

“Hurry up, Adam,” called Holly from the open doorway.

Adam glared at Owen. “You have to! We've got to capture the wraith again and set the girl free. She's already been there overnight. We don't want more trouble.”

“All right, all right, if Mum will let us out of the house. But count me out after this.” Owen grabbed the acorn. “I'm doing nothing more. Get it? NOTHING!” He poked his head into the kitchen and tried to sound less angry. “Mum, can Chantel and I go and watch if we promise to come back with Holly and Adam?”

Lynne sighed. “Can I trust you?”

“It wasn't us that took off!” said Owen, carefully avoiding the issue.

“I suppose.” Lynne pushed her hair back uneasily. “But come straight back.”

*   *   *

Owen and Chantel pushed through the turnstile and made their way toward the topiary garden.

Chantel poked Owen warningly.

A young woman and an older man, both in coveralls and green Wellington boots, were standing beside the ivy figure in the middle of the path.

The man scratched his head. “It's a right old mystery. Lord Mayerthorpe knows nothing about it.”

“It's very realistic,” remarked the woman. She tried to stick her hand through the ivy. “It must be on a wire frame.” She tried to waggle the sculpture. “The foundation's strong.”

The children watched while both gardeners tried to heave the ivy figure up from the path. They had no success.

“We're going to have to cut it down,” panted the woman. “Pity.”

The man shook his head. “There doesn't seem much point in an elaborate joke like this. Wonder who did it.”

The woman shrugged. “We'll need wire cutters as well as the pruning shears.” They passed the children with barely a nod.

“Quick, let's get this over before they come back.” Owen pulled the acorn from his pocket.

Chantel limped after him.

“Ready?” asked Owen. “I throw, you say the words. Then we grab the acorn and beat it!”

“I'm ready.” Chantel's voice quavered.

Owen flung the acorn.

“Lhiat myr hoilloo,” shouted Chantel.

The acorn hit the ivy figure, shattered, and green light flickered and jumped from leaf to leaf like electricity. With a sigh, the ivy fell in a heap around the feet of the dazed girl. A faint smudge of mist left her mouth. The acorn fragments gathered around it and reformed. Owen shot out his hand and snatched the acorn before it could fall to the ground.

“Run, before she comes to,” he muttered and spun away.

Chantel hobbled after him. “Wow. Is that what happened to me?”

Owen ignored her. He rushed through the manor grounds and popped out of the exit like a cork from a bottle.

Grabbing the Bath chair, he jiggled impatiently until Chantel caught up with him.

They were on their way to the museum when they heard a terrified yell from the gardens.

“Help, someone! I've been abducted by aliens.”

*   *   *

The meeting with Lynne was not as bad as the children expected. It was hard for her to be angry when Holly and Adam were being hailed as heroes. However, all four children were grounded for the rest of the day, despite protests from Owen.

“Oh, Owen, stop moaning,” Holly finally snapped as they sprawled on the back lawn reading. “We're all in this together.”

“Yes, but I'm the one who's stuck with the stupid wraith in my pocket,” snapped back Owen.

“Oh no!” groaned Adam. “I told you to bury it.”

“And when was I supposed to do that?” said Owen sarcastically. “We couldn't hang around in the garden, then we had to boot it back and get grounded with you two.”

“Take it out of your pocket,” said Holly sharply. “What if you sit on it and it smashes?”

“Exactly!” said Owen. He pulled out the acorn. “So, do we bury it here? The Circle would be safer.”

“We
are
inside the Circle, idiot. The stones are all around us, remember?”

“I know, but does the garden count as much as being in the field beside a stone?”

“It counts,” said Holly softly. “The whole area has been a special place for thousands of years. Yes, it counts.”

Owen held out the acorn to Holly. “You bury it.”

Holly stuck her hands on her hips. “Owen Maxwell, smarten up! You're the chosen one this time. It's up to you. Are you going to give up, chicken out and let the Dark Being get the circlet? Or are you going to organize Ava's ritual? We can bury the acorn at the same time.”

For a moment Owen rocked on the balls of his feet as though he were going to launch himself in fury at Holly. Instead, he took a deep breath. “The ritual,” he said clearly.

*   *   *

Owen lay on his back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He still had not figured out what to do and twilight was approaching fast.

The loss of Ava haunted him, but now his grief was tempered with determination. He was going to find her circlet and hand it over to the remaining Wise Ones as she had requested. Just how to do it eluded him. Desperately he went over and over the dreams, trying to decide on the key bits. If only Ava could help. Tears gathered in his eyes. He dashed them away. If only the stones could talk. Hey . . . the stones!

Owen leaped to his feet and slipped down the stairs. He paused as he passed the living room. The TV was on. Good, everyone else was in there. He slipped out the kitchen door.

Keeping to the shadows, Owen ran silently down the garden and through the gate to the nearest stone. He threw his arms around it and laid his cheek on the surface.

At first there was nothing. He made himself relax. Then it happened. He heard and felt the slow steady heartbeat.

“Stone,” he whispered, “please help me. How do I find Ava's circlet? What do I have to do to make you dance?”

A ripple of amusement ran through the stone.
Magic
Child, we thought you'd never think to ask. Listen and
learn, listen and learn.

Owen closed his eyes and concentrated. His heartbeat slowed and beat as one with the heart of the stone. Images flew through his mind, ancient words whispered in his ears and strength flowed from the stone into his heart.

Finally Owen stood. “Thank you,” he said formally and bowed to the stone. “I think I understand.” Swift as a hawk he flew back to the house and slipped upstairs to his room.

No one had missed him.

*   *   *

It was midnight. The moon was full. Brittle white light
washed across Gaia, illuminating the stones and the sleeping village.

Equus and Myrddin gazed down at the peaceful scene
in silence. They, and the universe, held their breath.

Small shadows moved! Four children crept from a darkened cottage and made their way across the village street,
through the stile, to the far side of the Stone Circle.

The Wise Ones waited.

“If only we could . . . ” began Equus.

Myrddin stretched out a warning hand. “Trust. They must
find their own way to express what's in their hearts.”

Equus fell silent again.

A tiny orange light flickered, then another, and another,
many small candles making a circle. A circle within the Circle, one not easily seen from the village, but one that could
be seen from the stars.

Myrddin and Equus exchanged hopeful glances.

Suddenly Myrddin raised his arms. “Blessings,” he roared.

“Owen has chosen well. This is the magic night Ava was
waiting for. Look at her stones!”

*   *   *

“Oh, look at the stones.” Chantel unconsciously echoed the Wise Ones.