The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) (20 page)

“And once she ended up at Elkhorn for treatment, well—you know the rest. They milked that precious energy out of her for a whole year. It’s a crime, a heartbreaking crime.”

Tears trickled from Jeep’s eyes. “I needed to know. My poor mom.” Adah held him close as the tears fell.

 “Now on to more pleasant matters.” Grikkl declared, as he held out his open palm.

“Give me your medallion, Jeep.”

“Why? You’re not taking it away from me, are you?” He fumbled with the cord around his neck as he untied it. This was the first time he had taken it off.

“Certainly not. You have more use for it now than ever. Let me show you something.” Grikkl pointed at the symbol on the back.

 “See that? It’s a very old, top-secret symbol only a few understand. It stands for Eight Foot Pygmies. Get it? See the 8 – backward F – P, on top of each other? That’s the mark of an ancient brotherhood devoted to protecting binkle energy.”

Jeep nodded as the cryptic squiggle turned into something meaningful.

“Eight-foot pigmies? That’s plain nonsense.”

“That’s not the way they look,” laughed Adah. “It’s just a symbol of something else.”

Grikkl continued, “Eight Foot Pygmies perform impossibly difficult tasks all over the world to interfere with Uuglash’s demonic schemes. The work they do must be performed in total concealment because it’s so dangerous. Their duties put them at great risk. That’s why no one can join the brotherhood until they’ve reached tablixx.”

“Are you one?”

“Aye, Laddie, and proud it makes me. And Adah, too.”

Adah smiled at Jeep, “What happened to you at Elkhorn proved you can reach tablixx.” She looked expectantly at Grikkl, who adopted an official manner.

“Jeep, it gives me great pleasure to invite you into the Eight Foot Pygmies.

The other members were informed of your feat and eagerly welcome you into their brotherhood.”

Jeep was totally discombobulated, “Me?... Me? They’re choosing me? I get to be an Eight Foot Pigmy?!”

Adah patted him on the back and smiled, “I always knew you could do something remarkable, Jeep I always knew...”

Grikkl explained, “Before you stumbled on that blasted binkle-sucking machine, no one could figure out how Uuglash was getting enough energy for his cronies. His kind can’t make high-octane energy like binkles, so they take it from others by force.

“We couldn’t tell what he was doing to get so much of it. But we knew it was something we hadn’t encountered before. His team kept getting stronger, somehow. You solved it, Jeep! You found out where their high-vibration energy supply was coming from. And you showed us how to stop them from doing it. By disturbing their power supply line their unholy progress has been blocked for a while.”

Jeep was flabbergasted, speechless, actually. Adah kept patting his shoulder.

“There’s one other little thing, Laddie... As you know, one of my responsibilities is maintaining the historical archives for the Chamber of Ancient Wisdom. That includes recording the noteworthy deeds and remarkable tales of the treasures. Your deed is worthy of being included here for all time.”

“Me? Here? With all these heroes?” Jeep’s remaining self-control dissolved.

Grikkl held out his hand. “I want your compass, that catawampus compass you carry. It should be here, along with the enchanted mirror Adah gave you. They’ll represent your extraordinary contribution.”

Jeep opened his mouth but still no words came out. To say he was pleased would be far short of the truth—thrilled, tickled, amazed, and overjoyed would be more like it. 

Adah added, “Just so you know, Jeep, what you started isn’t nearly finished yet. There’ll be causes for celebration in the months and years ahead. You found out how and where Uuglash gets his energy. When you wrecked his machine you saved the patients at Elkhorn.”

Grikkl added, “Sure, that’s great, but there’s another picture Jeep needs to think about. Elkhorn’s one little place—think about the whole world. There are other places like Elkhorn with power-sucking machines harvesting energy for Uuglash’s evil purposes. We need to shut them all down, wherever they do their vile work.

“That’s where the Eight Foot Pygmies come in. That’s the kind of assignment they carry out. Thanks to you, we now know what to look for—a crazy spinning compass gives away the location of such machines. The Eight Foot Pigmies will destroy those diabolical binkle suckers as fast as we can find them.”

Adah added, “What a fine thing you’ve done! You should be proud.”

“Plenty to be proud about, but let’s not get sappy, Adah. Jeep is an Eight Foot Pigmy now. That means his part isn’t done. Right Laddie? Can’t you see that you need to be out there where the action is?”

“I’ll try, but I don’t know...”

“I’m sure that’s good enough,” said Adah. And nobody bothered to disagree.

Jeep grabbed both of the genial gnomes and hugged them close. “You guys—this is such a binkle! I can’t imagine my life before you found me—all cold, and hungry and broken. That was bad enough. But much worse than that—binkle-less. You guys led me out of a scared life to where I know what’s real, what’s good just by its energy. I know I can’t repay you, but I might do you a good turn in return.”

“You don’t owe us anything, Laddie.”

“I know, but this is something the binkle taught me—that might could help you. Listen, anyway.”

“Never one to think I know it all, have at it,” said Grikkl.

“You know how you fall apart in the everyday world—that kittens hendrini thing? That used magic to put Humpty Dumpty back together. But wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t fall apart in the first place?”

“Sure, but I don’t have any magic for that.”

“That’s not exactly true. It’s not a magic spell that’s needed—if I’ve got this figured out right. Down here and where you live there’s binkle energy all over—so you don’t have the cracking problem. Cracking us is from the lack of binkles, right?”

“Right” said both Adah and Grikkl with one voice.

“Then just binkle yourself. Feel a binkle that you are not apart. That’s the very energy that will hold you together. As long as you feel the zizz from being together, you won’t fall apart or need a spell to put you back together. ”

“I think you’re on to something, there Laddie. Never would have thought of it,” conceded Grikkl.

“See Grikkl, the young ones can teach us all a thing or two,” said Adah. “There’s a binkle there for sure.”

~~~

The next time Jeep visited her, Adah announced, “Let’s have a tea party, right here—today! I’ve been wanting one—it’s the perfect time.” Her eyes sparkled, “Oh, Jeep, we’ll have such fun! Now, who should we invite?” She danced with excitement, like a kid headed to go to the circus.

“I know—I want to meet your mother, Helen... Definitely your mother. So we’d better include her husband, too. Chris? Right? Oh, and we must have Anna and Louise, and MeToo, too. Cerberus can deliver invitations.”

She quickly scribbled out several notes that included instructions about how to come—“At 3:00 this afternoon hold both your earlobes and say out loud, ‘Adah sent for me’ three times.” She placed the notes in his pack and Cerberus leaped to his task.

Grikkl called, “Count me in.”

“Well, there’s one already. It’s going to be perfect!” Adah winked at Jeep. “Can’t you feel it? We better get ready—there are a hundred things to do. We’re going to make this place look festive.” She rattled off a slew of tasks.

“Slow down. I’d better make a list.”

She got Nelda involved and Grikkl cleared his papers off the table. “Enough for today. Adah, you seem to know what needs doing, but let me get it all done pronto.”

Adah laughed. Jeep understood why as soon as Grikkl started to play Arla, his concertina. The tune was lively to start with. But the faster he played the faster everybody moved. Jeep’s dashing feet never slowed down as he swiftly whirled from task to task.
I’m like the sorcerer’s apprentice.
The music had the same effect on the work crew.

Nelda and Jeep covered the table with a tablecloth that Adah had embroidered with colorful leaves and birds. Like her dress, the 3-D images were so realistic the cavern felt like it was outdoors—with living birds and plants. More chairs appeared at the table which grew bigger in order to seat a crowd.

They covered the table with plates and glasses and yummy-looking pastries and candies. Of course, it was an illusion since much of it was gussied-up faduki. Bottles of Chadwick Soda cooled in a tub of ice water. It has a dubahfruit and lime flavor that tickles the tongue—and the toes. Just the thing for a dance. But its most notable effect is as a laughter tonic. “More Laughs—More Often” was its slogan.

By the time Grikkl stopped playing, Adah, Nelda, and Jeep were winded and giggly (that is, if Nelda could do either). It looks like a garden party, right and proper, they all agreed.

First to arrive, Louise and Anna popped out of the air and bounced onto the sofa. Their faces glowed with excitement. Adah hugged them and gave a tour—which didn’t take long. “Looks just like you described it—only better,” Anna whispered to Jeep.

Chris and Helen arrived bearing two baskets. One held MeToo. Chris held out the other one to the hostess. “I didn’t come empty handed. Here are goodies made from truffles—truffle trifle and truffle crepes.”

“I’m impressed! You actually cooked from scratch.” Adah said, (and so was everyone else who tasted them later). Adah hugged each of them in turn. “You don’t mind if I call you Helen and Chris, do you? No need for formality today.”

Once Helen was seated, Heather and Yawn re-attached themselves beside her on the chair, and didn’t move again. She sat quietly through the goings-on. Everyone squeezed around the table packed with fancy faduki goodies and Chris’s truffle treats. The food tasted great, but couldn’t compete with the company.

A giggle announced the arrival of unexpected guests. “We heard there was a party going on,” said a less wrinkly gnome who shimmered like Adah and Grikkl. The twinkle in her laughing eyes left no doubt that she squeezed all the delight possible out of every moment. Her pudgy figure was decked out in a floor-length, lacy blue cape. And her long gray hair streamed down her back.

Her companion was as thin as she was wide. His child’s face with super-big eyes perched on a body tall enough to be a grown-up. But there wasn’t anything remotely grown-up about him or his manner. He moved with such fluid grace he seemed to flow. From head to toe he was covered in a forest green suit that clung to him as tightly as paint would.

Adah laughed and rolled her eyes. “All right you two—you’re invited then. But you’ll have to sing for your supper.”

She turned toward those at the table, “Meet Layda and Taloo. You’d think they’d have seen enough of me the last few months. But noooooo, they still want to know what I’m up to. You can’t stand to miss a party.”

The new arrivals squeezed into the cozy circle. Taloo told hilarious stories about the mischief of fairy folk, like how a dancing troupe caught a ride on a fox, but then didn’t know how to slow it down so they could get off. Such a character! Everyone except Helen laughed until their sides ached.

Taloo showed off his newest trick. He rested his right hand on the floor, then stretched his left arm up until it actually touched the rock ceiling. Once both arms were solidly placed, he maneuvered his body around until both legs were stretched out straight, parallel to the floor. Then he started to wiggle all over so fast he was nothing but a blur. The rapid vibration created a tone that echoed through the room and made everyone tingle head to toe—further exaggerated by the Chadwick Soda.

“How can you do that, Taloo? Does it hurt?” Jeep exclaimed.

“It’s easier if you don’t weigh much. Want to see me tie myself in a knot?” Taloo asked, as he twisted his legs around each other and performed other absurd contortions.

Louise advised Jeep, “We don’t want to see you trying to do that yourself.”

 “I think I can resist.” Everyone burst out laughing.

Adah and Layda sang several songs. After The Bird Song, Louise whispered to Jeep, “The freedom of flying is even better than you described.”

After that, Layda sang a song by herself, about water. It started as a drop that fell from the clouds, hit the ground and was sucked up through narrow roots, then moved through stems and leaves before returning to the air¼ only to become a cloud again. And sometimes the water was only a drop, but at other times it was a puddle, or a river, or an ocean. And sometimes it was still, and other times it was a waterfall or a torrent, driven by the wind. By the time Layda finished, everyone there knew the ways of water.

As the song faded, a commotion arose—noisy growls and vigorous banging. The ruckus came from MeToo and Nelda as the dog rolled around on the ground. He growled and made happy sounds as Nelda scratched and petted him all over. What an amusing pair—barking, humming, and bumping about. Watching his dog having so much fun with Nelda made Jeep think,
I wish it were me, too.

~~~

Adah faced Louise and Anna. “My dears, Jeep told me about all your assistance in rescuing Helen. Even though plans changed at the last minute, your help made a big difference in its success.”