Read Online Fair Wind to Widdershins by Allan Frewin Jones - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Allan Frewin Jones
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beneath in rich Gothic text.
“I think we’re narrowing it down,” said Percy. “It’s definitely the coat of arms of one of the ancient guilds.”
“How many different guilds are there?” asked Esmeralda.
“Originally, there were three thousand nine hundred and seventy-two,” said Percy.
“Lummy!” exclaimed Jack. “We could be here for days!”
“I don’t think so,” said Percy. “The silver saltires suggest it is a guild of scientists and mechanics.” He tapped at the key with a fingernail. “And those bells are the most significant of all!” He turned several more pages. “Hah! Yes, the bell is the sign of the Ancient Guild of Horologists!”
“Who-what-ogists?” asked Esmeralda.
“Clockmakers, to you,” said Percy.
“It’s a winding key for a clock!” said Trundle excitedly. “We never once thought of that. How marvelous!”
“Now all we need do is find the clock it was made for,” added Jack.
“It must be here in Widdershins,” said Esmeralda.
“I can’t think that it would be anywhere else,” Percy agreed. “Such a large old key must fit a large old clock.”
“Are there any large old clocks around here?” asked Jack.
“Several,” said Percy. “But none of them is big enough to need such an impressive key.” He rubbed his chin. “This is most perplexing.”
“Please, Percy—do think!” urged Esmeralda. “It must be a very big and a very special clock.”
“I know, I know,” mused the Herald Pursuivant. “Now, where can it be? Wait !” His sudden yell made Trundle jump. “The old clock tower! It’s in Bodger’s Quad, out by the Tower of the Swollen Gargoyles in the West Ward. Hmm, tricky.”
“Why tricky?” asked Trundle.
“Because that area is out of bounds,” said Percy. “No one is allowed to go there.”
“Hah!” declared Esmeralda. “So someone knows something about it and wants to keep people out, eh?”
“Not exactly,” said Percy. “It’s out of bounds because it’s falling to pieces. It’s a ruin. I’m not sure we can risk going there without help. I’ll go and speak with Doctor Brockwise. I’ll tell him everything and suggest he equip an expeditionary party to enter Bodger’s Quad. Then we can investigate slowly and safely.”
“Um, Percy,” said Esmeralda, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. You see, we haven’t told you the whole tale.”
“Indeed?” said Percy, his eyebrows lifting. “Then perhaps you should.”
And so Esmeralda, with interjections from Jack and Trundle, explained about Millie Rose Thorne and the pirates and how the Iron Pig could turn up at any minute now, which would mean unpleasantness and slaughter and similar bad things.
“So you see, Percy, we’re on a bit of a deadline,” finished Esmeralda.
“And on top of that,” added Trundle, “we’re pretty sure that Esmeralda’s aunt sent a raven messenger here. It passed us on the way, and it gave me a very nasty look.”
“Which means someone here may already know about us,” said Esmeralda. “So the quicker we find the next crown and get out of here, the better.”
“I see,” said Percy. “Well, under the circumstances, I think we should definitely risk the perils of Bodger’s Quad, come what may!”
Percy took them by unused routes and deserted thoroughfares right across the great expanse of the guild’s property. Trundle became aware after a while that things were beginning to look rather tumble-down.
They walked along a dusty, rubbish-filled corridor. A door swung open on one hinge, leading only to a gaping hole in the ground. They crossed a courtyard surrounded by ruined buildings that reared up around them like broken teeth. Tough grasses sprouted from between pavingstones. Spiky bushes shouldered up between rotting bricks. Ivy crawled over buildings with broken glass in their eyes and with caved-in roofs like rib bones against the sky.
“This is Bodger’s Quad,” said Percy as the four of them squeezed
“I think we’re narrowing it down,” said Percy. “It’s definitely the coat of arms of one of the ancient guilds.”
“How many different guilds are there?” asked Esmeralda.
“Originally, there were three thousand nine hundred and seventy-two,” said Percy.
“Lummy!” exclaimed Jack. “We could be here for days!”
“I don’t think so,” said Percy. “The silver saltires suggest it is a guild of scientists and mechanics.” He tapped at the key with a fingernail. “And those bells are the most significant of all!” He turned several more pages. “Hah! Yes, the bell is the sign of the Ancient Guild of Horologists!”
“Who-what-ogists?” asked Esmeralda.
“Clockmakers, to you,” said Percy.
“It’s a winding key for a clock!” said Trundle excitedly. “We never once thought of that. How marvelous!”
“Now all we need do is find the clock it was made for,” added Jack.
“It must be here in Widdershins,” said Esmeralda.
“I can’t think that it would be anywhere else,” Percy agreed. “Such a large old key must fit a large old clock.”
“Are there any large old clocks around here?” asked Jack.
“Several,” said Percy. “But none of them is big enough to need such an impressive key.” He rubbed his chin. “This is most perplexing.”
“Please, Percy—do think!” urged Esmeralda. “It must be a very big and a very special clock.”
“I know, I know,” mused the Herald Pursuivant. “Now, where can it be? Wait !” His sudden yell made Trundle jump. “The old clock tower! It’s in Bodger’s Quad, out by the Tower of the Swollen Gargoyles in the West Ward. Hmm, tricky.”
“Why tricky?” asked Trundle.
“Because that area is out of bounds,” said Percy. “No one is allowed to go there.”
“Hah!” declared Esmeralda. “So someone knows something about it and wants to keep people out, eh?”
“Not exactly,” said Percy. “It’s out of bounds because it’s falling to pieces. It’s a ruin. I’m not sure we can risk going there without help. I’ll go and speak with Doctor Brockwise. I’ll tell him everything and suggest he equip an expeditionary party to enter Bodger’s Quad. Then we can investigate slowly and safely.”
“Um, Percy,” said Esmeralda, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. You see, we haven’t told you the whole tale.”
“Indeed?” said Percy, his eyebrows lifting. “Then perhaps you should.”
And so Esmeralda, with interjections from Jack and Trundle, explained about Millie Rose Thorne and the pirates and how the Iron Pig could turn up at any minute now, which would mean unpleasantness and slaughter and similar bad things.
“So you see, Percy, we’re on a bit of a deadline,” finished Esmeralda.
“And on top of that,” added Trundle, “we’re pretty sure that Esmeralda’s aunt sent a raven messenger here. It passed us on the way, and it gave me a very nasty look.”
“Which means someone here may already know about us,” said Esmeralda. “So the quicker we find the next crown and get out of here, the better.”
“I see,” said Percy. “Well, under the circumstances, I think we should definitely risk the perils of Bodger’s Quad, come what may!”
Percy took them by unused routes and deserted thoroughfares right across the great expanse of the guild’s property. Trundle became aware after a while that things were beginning to look rather tumble-down.
They walked along a dusty, rubbish-filled corridor. A door swung open on one hinge, leading only to a gaping hole in the ground. They crossed a courtyard surrounded by ruined buildings that reared up around them like broken teeth. Tough grasses sprouted from between pavingstones. Spiky bushes shouldered up between rotting bricks. Ivy crawled over buildings with broken glass in their eyes and with caved-in roofs like rib bones against the sky.
“This is Bodger’s Quad,” said Percy as the four of them squeezed
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