_Planning the Search_
They turned out of the square into a wide avenue, bordered on each
side with beautiful trees. At the end of this avenue stood the Palace
gates, and behind these, glimpses could be caught of the Palace itself,
gleaming white through the trees and bushes which surrounded it and
almost hid it from sight of the gates; the only parts which were
entirely visible were its four white towers which rose high above the
tree tops. Having ascended the flight of wide, marble steps before the
gates, the four visitors passed the sentry—who seemed to know Glan
quite well—and made their way through the grounds to the main entrance
of the Palace.
Jack and Molly were lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene
before them. The creeper-clad walls and white towers of the Palace
stood in well-wooded grounds through which a little river wandered,
sparkling in the sunlight. Along the central avenue that led to the
Palace, and up the great wide steps to the main door, there moved a
constant stream of people, dressed in all sorts of lovely shades and
colours; from a distance you might almost think they were the moving
reflections of the flowers that clustered in profusion wherever your
eyes turned. Had this been really so, Glan in his white suit might have
passed for the reflection of a white stock, perhaps; Molly for a blue
and white periwinkle; Jack for a dark blue hyacinth; and Aunt Janet,
who was all in brown, for a large autumn leaf.
They joined the moving procession, and as they began to mount the
steps Glan explained to the children that all these people were on the
same errand as themselves; they had come to offer their help in the
organized search that was about to take place. The main doors of the
Palace were soon reached and they passed through, and were presently
ushered into a spacious hall, panelled with dark oak. (For although
the outsides of the buildings in the City were white, the children had
already noted that the insides were coloured in many and varied styles.)
The hall was already crowded with people, and on a raised daïs at the
far end there sat the King’s Councillors—a group of wise and learned
men and women—round a long table. At first Jack and Molly could not
see very well, but when a sudden hush fell on the assembly and the
people all bowed, the children could see over the bowed heads that some
one of importance was entering. They were made sure of this by the
nudges of Aunt Janet. And looking up they saw it was the King.
His Majesty was middle-aged and rather tall and well built, and had
a strong, clean-shaven face. The children liked his appearance. That
he was ‘every inch a king’ could truly be said of him, though he wore
no crown or velvet robes as the kings usually did in the children’s
story-books at home, but was dressed very simply in a suit that
reminded Jack vaguely of an admiral’s uniform.
“What a decent sort he looks,” whispered Jack to Molly.
After a few words of welcome to the people the King called upon one of
the Councillors—a shrewd little man with tufty white whiskers—to tell
the true story of the Pumpkin’s return to the Possible World, which the
Councillor did, having obtained a full account from Old Nancy. The
only question which still remained unsolved was: Who was the traitor
who had drugged Old Nancy, and so aided the Pumpkin to return? This
mystery, he said, they hoped to clear up when the Black Leaf was found.
When he had finished his story and had sat down, a buzz of murmuring
voices filled the hall, and people turned to one another commenting on
the story about Old Nancy which they had just been told, and comparing
notes on the exaggerated versions of the tale that had reached them
from various quarters.
Silence fell as the King rose again. After a few comments on the
Pumpkin’s return, he began to speak of the plans for searching, which
he and the Councillors had discussed at an emergency meeting early this
morning.
“To make sure that every likely inch of ground is searched,” he said,
“we have taken a map of the City and the outlying country, as far as
the boundaries of this kingdom extend—and this is the only kingdom
in which the Black Leaf can grow, remember—and we have divided this
map into a number of small squares. Now what we want you each to do is
to choose a square of the map, which you may take away with you—and
search thoroughly every inch of the ground marked.
“In this way the Black Leaf must be found sooner or later—unless there
is any careless searching or delay in searching. For, remember, we have
only _eleven days left_ before the Black Leaf disappears—and if it is
not found before then the Pumpkin will remain with us for a year until
the Leaf appears again and another search can be made.
“Those who volunteer outside the City are advised to search in couples,
as the Pumpkin will be a constant source of danger to a person alone,
whereas, if there are two of you, one can always keep watch while the
other searches difficult places, or rests for a while.”
And here the King said a special word of warning regarding decoys and
traps set by the Pumpkin in order to hinder the searchers, and then
went on to explain what should be done if the Black Leaf was found,
repeating the words that Jack and Molly had already heard from Old
Nancy.
“As soon as it is known that the Black Leaf is found,” the King
continued, “signals will be given throughout the country, so that all
the searchers can cease, and make their way back to the City and
the hill by Old Nancy’s cottage, in order to witness the Pumpkin’s
punishment. These signals will be given by means of beacon fires which
will be lit on the hill tops near and far. And when the glad news
reaches the City all the bells will be set ringing.”
“Your Majesty, would it be possible for one of the Pumpkin’s friends to
start the first beacon blazing, before the Leaf was found, in order to
stop the searchers?” some one in the hall inquired.
“No,” replied the King. “Because we are so arranging it that only the
person who has actually plucked the Black Leaf, and has it in his or
her hand, can set a light to the first beacon. Each beacon is being
specially guarded ... well, I will admit that we have called in the
aid of Old Nancy to help us in the guarding of them. So you may rest
assured that none of the Pumpkin’s friends will be able to touch the
beacons.... So, whoever finds the Black Leaf, remember to set the
nearest beacon on fire before starting back to Old Nancy, that we may
all know the good news at the earliest possible moment.”
The King concluded by asking for volunteers to search outside the City
and inside the City to come forward and sign their names in the book
which had been placed on a table half-way along the hall.
“The Pumpkin has already, in the last few hours, caused much sorrow,”
he said sadly. “Let us make certain that this is the last time he shall
ever bring disaster and misery to our country. Let us put our best
efforts into this scheme for finding the Black Leaf, and so banish for
all time the Grey Pumpkin.”
He sat down amid a great cheer which came from the hearts of the people
in the crowded hall. It was obvious that the King was very popular.
The people pressed forward eagerly to sign their names, and Jack and
Molly together with Glan and Aunt Janet were among the foremost to
signify their willingness to help. Both the children caught the wave
of enthusiasm which swept through the hall, and felt that here was a
country and a King well worth working for. And their dislike of the
Pumpkin who would spoil everything grew more intense.
“I’m afraid I can only volunteer to search inside the City,” said
Aunt Janet to the children as they turned away from the table. “I
can’t walk very far without getting a bit tired. And as for running—I
couldn’t—not if fifty Pumpkins were after me.”
“I think it’s jolly sporty of you to offer at all,” said Jack.
“Oh, we all want to do what we can, dearie,” she smiled.
The four of them moved on and joined a group of people who were
examining one of the large maps of the City and surrounding country
which were hanging round the room. They had begun to discuss what part
of the country would be the best for them to search, when they heard,
much to their surprise, someone call out the names of the two children
in a loud voice. Turning quickly they saw that the King had the big
book of names in front of him, and with his finger to a name on the
page, was looking round the room. It was one of the Councillors near
him who had called out their names, evidently at the King’s request.
Before the children could wonder what they ought to do, the King spoke:
“I see,” he said, “that we have two friends from the Impossible World
who have kindly offered to help us. I should like to thank them
personally. Strangers are often lucky!”
Some one started a cheer which was quickly taken up by the entire hall
full of people, and Jack and Molly, both blushing furiously at this
unexpected attention, were pushed forward by Glan and Aunt Janet, to
the foot of the raised daïs where the King greeted them, welcoming
them to the country, and warmly shaking hands with them. They chatted
together for a few minutes, the King asking many questions about the
Impossible World.
“But, ah me!” the King said. “I am afraid this will be the Impossible
World now that the Pumpkin’s returned.”
“We will soon make it Possible again, your Majesty,” said Molly. “If it
is in our power to do so.”
“I’m sure we shall all do our best,” said the King. “Now which part of
the country would you prefer to search?”
The children said they did not mind, as all the country was strange and
fresh to them, and asked his Majesty if he thought the Leaf was more
likely to be outside the City than inside.
“Of course, one can never be sure, but I think it’s much more likely to
be outside the City than inside,” the King replied. “But still it _may_
be inside! We shall make a thorough search inside, naturally: in every
garden, and street, and plant-pot, and window-box—everywhere, in every
place likely and unlikely.”
When the children heard that the Leaf was more likely to be outside
they at once made up their minds. Outside the City walls they would
search, Jack and Molly together. And so it was arranged.
They chose a little square of the country that lay outside the East
Gate of the City. It was entirely fresh country to them, and Molly
liked the names given to that part of the country. Down the Three Green
Lanes, over Goblin’s Heath, through the Orange Wood, and the country
along the banks of a broad river to Lake Desolate, and the Brown Hills.
Although these names were all marked in one little square on the map it
was really a good many miles—especially when every likely part must be
carefully gone over and examined.
After Jack and Molly had received their small square of map, Glan
stepped forward to pick his square. He shook hands and chatted with the
King for a second, and then stood before the map trying to make up his
mind. While he was deciding, tracing along the map with his plump white
forefinger, the children stood aside watching the stream of people
passing to and fro, choosing their square of map, shaking hands with
the King, and passing on and out of the great door at the end of the
hall. Most of them had a friendly smile and nod for Jack and Molly as
they went by, and several came up to the children, and shook hands with
them, thanking them for offering to help their country in this trouble.
At length, after Glan had chosen, and helped Aunt Janet to choose her
bit, and shaken hands excitedly with everybody round about (including
Aunt Janet, by mistake), he, Aunt Janet, Jack, and Molly bade farewell
to the King and made their way out of the Palace. They retraced their
steps through the Palace grounds, passing the sentry at the gate, and
went toward the Market Square again. Glan and Aunt Janet insisted on
showing the children the way to the East Gate, and so the four went
along talking eagerly, the children full of enthusiasm for the coming
search, for the King, and for the Possible World.
“I’ve got a big forest to search in my bit,” said Glan. “I like
forests. And I’m arranging for father to help me if he feels
inclined—on the days when he’s not at Court. I wish I could have got
a bit to search outside the East Gate—so as to be near you both—but
all the bits I wanted were already taken by other people. Fortunately,
though, I’ve managed to get a square that backs on to a piece of the
ground you’ll be searching—though I start from the West Gate. You see
the wood bends round at this point——” and he compared his square of
map with Jack and Molly’s square, and showed them where his ground
touched theirs. “So I shan’t be so very far away,” he laughed. “You
can’t get rid of me, altogether.”
“I’m sure we don’t want to,” said Molly.
“Rather not,” said Jack.
“Oh, Glan, you will be careful, won’t you?—and not get caught by the
Pumpkin?” added Molly anxiously.
“Of course, little lady,” Glan replied. “You should see me _run_ if
I want to. I’ll not get caught.” He was still studying and comparing
the maps. “Why, look here!” he exclaimed, “you’ve got the Orange Wood
in your bit. Well, I never! D’you hear that, Aunt Janet? The Orange
Wood.... We’ve got a relative who lives in that wood. I must give you
his name.” Glan scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed
it to the children. “Any of the people in the village near by will
direct you to his house—they all know him. Papingay’s his name—I’ve
written it down, you see. He’ll be delighted to see you—tell him you
know us, Aunt Janet and Father and me. But don’t be surprised at his
funny little ways—he’s a queer old soul—a very queer old soul.” Glan
chuckled to himself at some recollection.
“He’s a kind of cousin of Glan’s father, dearies,” observed Aunt Janet.
The children were glad to hear of this one person, at any rate, whom
they might trust in the strange, unknown country before them.
“Be sure to humour him, though,” added Glan. “He’s worth it. Don’t
forget.”
While they had been talking they had been passing through many quaint
streets on their way to the East Gate: streets that on an ordinary
occasion would have made Jack and Molly long to stop and explore them
slowly, there were so many tempting and curious things to be seen. But
there was no time for loitering now. There was serious work to be
done. So they hastened along until at length the East Gate was reached.
Here Glan produced two neat little boxes of sandwiches and cakes,
giving one of them to Jack and one to Molly. “A snack for lunch,” he
said.
“You’re sure to find plenty of friends as you go along,” said Aunt
Janet. “But do take care of yourselves, dearies. Good luck be with
you.” And she fumbled for her pocket-handkerchief and dabbed her eyes
rapidly, while Glan patted her on the shoulder.
“Here’s to our next meeting,” he cried cheerily, “and may it be soon.
Who’s going to light the first beacon, little lady, you or I?”
“Neither,” said Jack, laughing. “I am.”
“That’s the sort,” cried Glan, patting Aunt Janet vigorously, as he
beamed at Jack.
The keeper of the East Gate had by this time appeared and was
cautiously opening the gate. Finding the way clear he opened it wide.
“Laugh at misfortune,” Glan shouted gaily, as Jack and Molly passed out
on to the High Road. “Keep up a good heart, and—tss—remember—we
shall win. Good luck! Good luck!” They saw him wave his white cap in
the air; there was a flutter of brown-gloved hands, then the gate
closed.