Fum’s demise with a mixture of awe and disgust.
Screaming, bellowing and writhing, the giant folded himself into a ball in an attempt to protect himself from the terrible heat. But it did little good. The lava continued to spew from the Portal like a vengeful red rain. With no smoke from which to draw added energy, the giant’s body succumbed and broke down in the volcanic stream. As Fo Fum stopped moving, the Portal finally shuddered one last time then collapsed in a flash of sparks.
55
Burial at Sea
Thinking that it was over, Marsila and E’Jaaz edged closer to Fo Fum’s body.
‘No,’ said Charlie. She had to repeat herself when the two adults, slightly deafened by the cataclysmic event, failed to hear her the first time. ‘No! Don’t go near him. I thought we’d killed him once before and that didn’t work. Let’s not take any risks.’
‘What?’
Charlie sighed. Doing her best with a mix of poor pantomime and hand gestures she indicated the risk to the dazed Keepers.
‘SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?’ bellowed E’Jaaz.
‘I’m not deaf!’ protested Charlie.
‘WHAT?’
‘You don’t have to shout!’
‘WHAT?’
‘Oh for crying out loud,’ muttered Charlie. Using the last scraps of her strength she opened a Portal back to the Jade Tower.
‘Charlie?’ said Lady Dridif. She paused so that one of the guards could take the arm of the wounded councillor who she had been helping. ‘Is it over?’
‘Yes. Well … almost.’
‘Thank ya, Charlie. For all that yer’ve done. We owe ya a debt of gratitude that –’
‘Uh, Dridif?’ groaned Charlie as she struggled beneath the weight of the Portal.
‘Wot is it?’
‘Portal. Kinda heavy.’
‘Sorry. Wot do ya need?’
‘Can you come through? Bring ink, paper, as many guards as you can spare and all the fans that you can find.’
‘Fans, ya mean the ones on our ceilings?’
‘Noooo,’ grumbled Charlie, really struggling beneath the pressure. ‘The ones that you flap with your hands. Please hurry, I can’t keep this open all day.’
Seeing the sweat on the girl’s brow Dridif bustled into motion. With several swift commands, a few raised eyebrows and the occasional acidic remark she spurred a mixed crowd of Tremen, councillors and servants into motion.
‘Quick! Quick! Ya there, run!’ urged Dridif, berating the last of the guards through the Portal. ‘And ya, stop pretending yer foot’s twisted. I saw yer run fast enough when the Shades came for ya. Jump, all of ya!’
Dridif was the last to step through the Portal. Charlie, drenched in sweat, sighed with relief as she could finally allow it to close.
‘Ya got him,’ said Dridif with an appreciative smile as she stared at the lumpy remains of Fo Fum.
‘Maybe, maybe not.’
‘Charlie, that’s just a big lump of charcoal. How can ya be worried about that?’
‘Jensen finished him off once before, but he came back from that. And you saw what happened earlier. I just don’t think it would be wise to take any chances.’
Dridif gave the cremated remains of Fo Fum a measured look. She was certain that the giant posed no threat, but she hadn’t reached her position of power by taking thoughtless risks. ‘So wot do ya have planned?’
Charlie told her. Dridif nodded in agreement and ordered those who had brought fans into motion. They formed an arc round the gigantic corpse and, waving the fans up and down, kept the smokes of Deepforest and Sylvaris at bay. Each councillor, guard or servant was careful in their duties. Indeed they might not have been a hundred per cent sure why they were doing what they did, but Dridif with her iron words and scathing look had ensured that each carried out his or her task to the best of their ability.
Charlie used the pen and paper to write down instructions for E’Jaaz and Marsila.
‘WHY DO YOU WANT TO OPEN A PORTAL TO THE SEA OF CHARMS?’
‘Oh, my days, would you two please stop shouting!’
‘WHAT?’
‘Stop shouting! Ooh hang on …’ Charlie scrawled Stop shouting! in capitals on a piece of parchment and underlined it three times. Grabbing both Keepers she held the paper under their noses.
‘Oh, sorry,’ said Marsila, shrugging. She stuck a finger in her ear in an attempt to clear her hearing. ‘We didn’t know.’
‘So why do you want to open a Portal to the Sea of Charms?’ asked E’Jaaz.
No smoke underwater, wrote Charlie and held the paper up so they could see.
‘Ah, good idea,’ said E’Jaaz, finally understanding what Charlie had been driving at.
Charlie gestured at the food and drink that Lady Dridif had thoughtfully brought with her.