Beyond the Cherry Tree by Joe O'Brien Page B

Mad Argil’s limp body.
    ‘Not fair,’ complained Mad Argil. ‘Not fair at all.’
    He was unharmed. The witch’s cat had a hold on his robe.
    ‘Stand back, Master Bloom,’ instructed the elf.
    Baulge ran over and stood his ground beside Bortwig as the other cat still hovered high. The cat on the ground opened its jaws and let Mad Argil go. Mad Argil complained again and brushed himself off.
    Bortwig’s eyes enlarged. Mad Argil turned quickly to see the cat’s razor-sharp claws raised above his head. It would swipe the dunger’s head clean off.
    Just as the cat was about to launch its blow, great bravery washed over Josh and he stepped forward to confront the giant cat.
    ‘No, Master Bloom!’
    Baulge let a worrying groan.
    Josh took his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the cat.
    ‘Leave now or die!’ Josh commanded.
    ‘You’re dead, boy!’ tittered Mad Argil to Josh.
    Baulge stepped forward and swung his rock club over his head, bellowing a deep fearsome cry at the cat. But the witches’ cat did not back down. It widened its gaping mouthonce more and leaned back on its hind legs and began to flap its wings. It was ready to strike.
    ‘Kill it, Baulge!’ yelled Bortwig.
    Baulge flung his rock club, but the cat lifted into the sky. Baulge had missed.
    The witches’ cat dived toward Josh.
    Suddenly Josh’s wand glowed brighter than Josh had ever seen and a blade of fire penetrated the giant cat’s chest, sending the creature over the cliff edge.
    The last cat screeched, leapt high in the sky and, on the goblin’s order, turned and flew away. They were fearful of the great magic that Josh possessed.
    Baulge lifted Josh in the air as if to commend the boy’s bravery, but Bortwig was in no mood for celebration.
    ‘You could have been killed, Master Bloom.’
    Josh was still shaking. Shocked, but overwhelmed that he had defeated the evil witches’ cat.
    ‘You can put me down now, Baulge!’ he smiled.
    Josh walked over to Bortwig and knelt down in front of the elf – face to face.
    ‘It’s lucky I’ve got this,’ said Josh, showing the wand to Bortwig.
    ‘Indeed it is, Master Bloom,’ sighed Bortwig.
    ‘I need answers, Bortwig’ said Josh. ‘Why is everything in Habilon trying to kill me?’
    Mad Argil jumped to his feet and combed his fingers through his filthy beard, picking out insects that had crawled up from the grass.
    ‘If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead now. I once killed a cyclops by just staring into its eye. Bet you didn’t know that – ha, ha!’
    Bortwig looked at Mad Argil with contempt, ‘Idiot!’ then he returned his eyes to Josh.
    ‘Is it because I’m looking for the general? Is that it, Bortwig? Do they think I have some connection to him, like I’m related to him or something?’
    That question made Josh think of home and Henry and Nell and the conversation they had on his birthday about his real parents. Josh was confused now. He sat down beside Bortwig.
    Bortwig shook his head. ‘We must focus on the path ahead, Master Bloom,’ comforted Bortwig. ‘And meeting the wizard.’
    ‘But what about the general?’ worried Josh. ‘I’m supposed to be searching for him, remember – my destiny. I know that’s what I’m supposed to be doing.’
    Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by yet another yelp from Mad Argil. When they looked to see what was wrong, the dunger could not be seen, yet still they could hear his annoying cries. Baulge was looking over thecliff when he turned quickly and bellowed out tremendous laughter toward Josh and Bortwig.
    A blaze of fire shot up into the sky straight up over Baulge’s head, followed by another. As the thick smoke cleared, an enormous white dragon appeared. It flapped its wings as it ascended from the cliff’s edge, then it landed beside the trees and folded its wings.
    A man climbed down from the dragon’s back. He had Mad Argil in a neck hold, but Josh could see from his smile and Baulge’s delight that