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(Continued from page 9)
eat the mince pies that Alex made.
Each girl was straining her ears for the sound of the bedroom door opening, and so had absolutely no idea that they were being watched.
Cire perched on the window ledge and looked into the darkened room beyond. He prayed to the Great Wizard that the tunnel had led him to someone that could help them.
He wished there was some other way, but even Nala had been unable to suggest anything. They had nowhere else to go; no one else to turn to. Cire did not know what dangers there might be in making contact, and that was the only reason that had persuaded Elenopa not to come. She had wanted to, and they had argued. Cire sighed. Every discussion of late that he had with Elenopa had ended in an argument. He hated adding to her burden, but in the end she had agreed that it was better for her to stay on the island in case something went wrong.
She and the others were waiting for him now to return with help. Cire hesitated only a moment longer, then lightly jumped down and landed in the middle of the bedroom. It was like so many of the other children's bedrooms that he had visited in the dead of night; pictures on the walls, toys scattered across the floor, two beds from which the steady breathing of the sleeping occupants could be heard. He was about to wake them when Cire hesitated again. He had thought much about what he would say to the first children to be contacted, but now that he was about to do it, nothing seemed right.
Someone moved under the covers of one of the beds and a sneeze was heard.
"Shh," scolded the lump from the other bed.
"Sorry," the first lump spat back.
"Are you awake?"
Cire did not realise that he had spoken aloud until the children sat up. The two girls took one look at the short person that was standing in a patch of moonlight at the end of their beds and ducked back under the covers with a scream.
"Do not be afraid," Cire said. "We need your help."
"Go away!" squealed one of the girls, trying to burrow further into the bed.
"Please?" Cire pleaded. "You are the only ones who can help us."
It was not going well. He did not know what to say to the girls that would make them trust him. He had known this was not going to work, but the others did not listen. The journey through the tunnel had been wasted.
One of the girls cautiously looked out from under the covers of her bed.
"Who are you?" she asked nervously.
Cire was startled by the question but it was the chance he needed. Maybe this would work. He drew himself up straight before he answered.
"I am Cire Arndt. Messenger from the Isle of T'Tenneb, home of the tooth fairies."
The fairy bowed as he introduced himself.
"A tooth fairy!" the girls exclaimed; one in disbelief, the other in joy. They both sat up.
Cire smiled at their reaction,
"We were not originally tooth fairies, but that is what we are now." He explained, then remembering the proper order of introductions asked, "And whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
The smaller of the girls jumped out of bed.
"I'm Alex, and this is my big sister Rachel." Alex scowled at the other bed, "She said you don't exist."
"I trust she is now convinced otherwise." Cire smiled in welcome and bowed again. "It is a pleasure to meet you Rachel, Alex."
"Do you want my tooth now?" Alex asked, holding out her hand to present the small white incisor to Cire. He seemed not to understand so Alex continued. "Mum said you would give me 50p for it."
After a moment's confusion, Cire remembered that the children did not yet know why he had come. He folded Alex's fingers over her tooth.
"You must keep hold of this for a little longer." He explained, "I have not come for your tooth, but for your help."
"How can we help?" Alex asked, puzzled.
"Our island is in danger," Cire said, "from a wizard who wants to enslave us. He uses magic from your world. We are powerless against it, but you may be able to help us defeat him."
"But we don't know anything about magic," Rachel spoke for the first time since Cire had arrived. "We won't be able to help you."
"Will you please come and see?" Cire asked. "You are our last hope."
Rachel and Alex looked at each other, thinking.
"Should we go?" Alex wondered. "Someone would miss us."
"Do not worry," Cire interrupted, "Nala says that no time will pass in your world while you are with us."
"I'm going," Alex decided.
Rachel hesitated, uncertain as to whether she should go or stay. She was scared of this strange person who was not supposed to exist. She did not trust him or his strange request, but she was not about to let her little sister know that. She was the oldest and although Alex had won this time, Rachel was determined to prove that she was still in charge.
"All right," Rachel decided, "I'll come."
(Continued on page 11)
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