Beyond the Cherry Tree by Joe O'Brien Page A

like a dot in the distance.
    ‘Heckrin!’ cried Josh, and he began to bolt.
    But as Josh approached the far cliffs of Heckrin’s Pass, it became apparent that it was not one, but three sets of wings that were flying towards them. It was the witches’ cats!
    Baulge dropped Mad Argil to the ground, untied his rock club, and took it in hand.
    Strangely, the ogre was not as scared now.
    ‘What are they, Bortwig?’ gasped Josh, almost out of breath.
    ‘Nasty goblins on the backs of the witches’ cats,’ answered Bortwig, helping Mad Argil to his feet.
    ‘Witches’ cats!’ yelped Mad Argil. ‘Goblins! Where? I will bash in their heads and throw them over the cliff.’
    ‘Not this again,’ huffed Bortwig. ‘Quickly! Head for those trees. They might not have spotted us yet.’
    The elf, ogre, dunger and boy darted toward the small cluster of whitethorns as the witches’ cats grew larger in the sky.
    Baulge bravely stepped out from the trees and swung his rock club fast and furiously above his head as the witches’ cats swooped down to attack.
    Bortwig grabbed hold of Mad Argil, who wanted to help the ogre.
    ‘Quiet, you mad fool!’ groaned Bortwig.
    Baulge was struggling to keep the cats away. Three were too many. Two of the cats surrounded Baulge while the third flew around the trees and landed on their far side.
    The black cat’s wings folded and its fangs glistened in the sun’s rays. The biggest goblin took a dagger in one hand and jumped off the cat’s back. Then he reached into his clothes and took out a whip. He slowly threaded through the trees.
    ‘Baulge!’ shouted Bortwig.
    Baulge turned his head and as he did, a black cat swiped its massive paw across his head, tearing part of his left ear away. Baulge cried out in rage, then leapt into the air and grabbed the cat’s tail as it was ascending. The injured ogre pulled on the cat’s tail and dragged it down. The goblin fell off and cracked his head open on a rock.
    ‘He’s coming in,’ cried Josh as the big goblin drew near the trees.
    ‘Let me go,’ protested Mad Argil. ‘I will kill him!’
    ‘Shut up, you fool,’ said Bortwig. He threw Mad Argil back on the ground behind Josh.
    ‘Stay here, both of you.’
    Bortwig approached the goblin.
    ‘Go now, while you still live!’ ordered the tree elf.
    The goblin grunted, then was distracted by a screech from nearby.
    Baulge had smashed the black cat against the ground and ripped one of its wings clean from its body, but the brave ogre could not help the elf as the second cat swooped down to attack him.
    The goblin and the elf met eye to eye at the edge of the trees. They circled each other. The goblin swiped the air with his dagger, and then cracked the ground with his whip. The elf made no move beyond silently moving his lips.
    Josh looked on in fear. Even though he could not see Baulge through the trees, he knew the ogre was in great combat. He could hear thrashing and screeching and grunting .
    Suddenly, the goblin lunged at Bortwig, its dagger pointing toward the elf’s chest. Then, it happened. The tree beside Bortwig grabbed hold of the goblin and wrapped its thorny branches around the goblin, squeezing and squeezing until it screeched its last agonising cry.
    Bortwig had spoken to the trees, and the trees had listened.
    A thought ran through Josh’s head, something Bortwig had said to him before, Mysterious and magical things, trees are, but not talkative!
    Josh smiled. Bortwig had done great.
    Baulge swiped at the air, but the black cat and the goblin climbed high out of reach. They hovered way above the ogre, planning their next attack.
    Bortwig was heading back into the trees when, suddenly there was a yelp. It came from Mad Argil. He had snuck out through the back of the trees and crept around to the cat that stood on the far side, alone.
    The cat walked toward the dead goblin with Mad Argil hanging from its jaws. Josh and Bortwig ran to the opening in the trees, expecting to see