Von Gobstopper's Arcade (21 page)

‘They’re getting away,’ Ernest said in despair.

And for a moment it really did seem as though Lord Aldor and Tempest were about to escape without any comeuppance—until another figure hobbled into the town square, aided by a young man with a rather formal air. Milli and Ernest at once recognised Gustav Von Gobstopper and his nephew, Fritz Braun.

Von Gobstopper clutched a lacquered music box at which he seemed to be directing some kind of incantation. Had he gone mad, the children wondered. Had the stress of all he had endured sent him off the rails? But Von Gobstopper looked more focused and sure of himself than the last time they had seen him.

He opened the lid of the box a fraction and a streak of blue fire shot out. It circled the square once and then darted between trees and startled townsfolk. Finally it disappeared inside an ancient elm. The huge tree began to glow, shafts of blue light spinning from its branches in all
directions. Then out stepped a woman with soft fair hair and blue robes that seemed to flow around her like water. A halo of light surrounded her entire body.

‘The Blue Fairy,’ whispered Milli.

‘She’s too late,’ said Ernest. ‘They’re about to escape.’

But it wasn’t too late.

From the folds of her robe, the fairy drew a wand in the shape of a twisted black twig and pointed it serenely at Tempest Anomali.

Tempest looked genuinely alarmed for the first time and raised both hands as if to shield herself. She tried to cower behind Lord Aldor, but he was intent on avoiding the wand himself and, with an unceremonious shove, jettisoned Tempest from the rocket. She landed on the ground in a surprised heap. Scrambling to her feet, she pleaded with Lord Aldor for assistance. As she waved her hands at him, something odd happened: her foot was suddenly where her hand should have been, and she was waving around her boot. Tempest watched in horror as the foot encased in its black studded boot began to blur. She blinked hard, hoping it was
a delusion brought on by stress, but her foot continued to fade until it disappeared completely! She was left hopping ridiculously on one leg. The next thing to go were her hands and ears. The Blue Fairy moved her wand a fraction in various directions and Tempest continued to fade away piece by piece, until there was nothing left of her but a shred of silver fabric fluttering in the wind.

With a strangled cry, Lord Aldor jerked the rocket’s controls violently and it jerked upwards. The crowd’s final vision of Lord Aldor was of an old man with his mouth hanging slightly open, his eyes crazed with the knowledge of impending defeat and his body slumped as if every vestige of energy had left him. Even at his weakest moment Lord Aldor had never looked like this.

The rocket darted behind some clouds pursued by a flying column of blue. When the rocket came into view again it was swaddled in blue light. The light grew brighter and swirled around the rocket at such a speed that soon the light and rocket merged into a single blur. A spectacular explosion followed which saw the
rocket catapulted through the sky in chunks. All that remained of its inhabitant was a rain of ash that floated softly down to earth.

Moments later the Blue Fairy was standing calmly by Von Gobstopper’s side. The crowd saw but could not hear the words they exchanged before the Blue Fairy herself vanished from sight. For some time after she had left them the trees remained tinged with blue and the air seemed to resonate with a stirring power.

A
n affectionate reunion between parents and children followed, with much squeezing of cheeks and ruffling of hair. It went on for some time, until Milli climbed onto the stage and called for everybody’s attention. The crowd looked up at her with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

‘Don’t celebrate yet!’ she said into the microphone. ‘There are still lots of toys trapped in the arcade. Lord Aldor may be gone, but he’s left a lot of problems behind. Mr Von Gobstopper and his nephew need our help.’

‘And whose fault is it that Lord Aldor came
back?’ called out one parent, gripping her son’s shoulder tightly.

‘It was you he wanted, but instead he went after
our
children,’ yelled another.

This unleashed a volley of accusations, which flew through the air like arrows. Milli flinched involuntarily.

Ernest scrambled up to join her, looking indignant. ‘How can you all be so STUPID?’ he demanded. ‘Milli and I have only ever tried to protect this town. Would you rather we had done nothing and let Aldor carry out his vicious plan?’

There was silence for a moment as everyone considered this.

‘Lord Aldor returned the first time to seek revenge on us because we rescued the shadows of Drabville and foiled his plan,’ Ernest went on. ‘Or have you forgotten that? Milli and I could have stayed living in luxury and left you all to live as robots, which would have been much easier—but we didn’t. Not that it makes any difference to you lot. You still hold
us
responsible.’

‘He’s right,’ piped up a small voice. It belonged to Pippa Squidge, one of the
younger children who had been taken to Battalion Minor. It was only due to Milli’s encouragement that she had survived. ‘How can you be so blind?’ she demanded. ‘If it wasn’t for Milli and Ernest, Lord Aldor would have sold us all at the market in the Conjurors’ Realm, and who knows where we’d be now. You should be giving them a big reward, not getting cross with them.’ She folded her arms and wrinkled her nose as she’d seen adults do when something displeased them. ‘I am very disappointed in you all.’

Hearing these truths from one so small took the townsfolk by surprise and they were speechless for some time as they contemplated what had been said. The adults were used to using such words themselves in order to keep the children in check and did not like this sudden role-reversal. They felt quite ashamed of themselves. Then the most unexpected person stepped forward to speak. Usually it was such adults as Mrs Klompet, Mr Mulberry or Mr Percival Bow who took on the public speaking challenges, or at least someone who was a member of the Custodians of Concord. Nobody
expected to hear from the person who now came forward.

‘The child is right, for heaven’s sake!’ exclaimed Mr Perriclof. ‘It’ll do no good standing about like stunned rabbits. If there are toys in distress, then let us rescue them—we can’t simply leave them there. Let us go now before any further damage is caused. I do believe the children have suffered enough!’

Whether it was the quality of Mr Perriclof’s speech or the shock of actually hearing him speak, I’m not sure, but his words spurred the townsfolk into action. They took no weapons with them, just headed towards the arcade as a large group.

As Milli expected, the doctors, assistants and administrators had packed up their belongings and gone. They had not, however, had time to empty the laboratories.

The children were made to stay on the ground floor whilst the adults gently removed the toys from their hospital beds and transported them to the new temp orary Toy Hospital, which the Custodians of Concord opened on the spot in the Town Hall. Lots of volunteers wrote their
names on a large sheet of paper, all eager to tend to the wounded toys. There would be plenty of jobs for everyone, Rosie Klompet assured the anxious townsfolk. They would need nurses and craftsmen and people to find the toys loving homes once they had fully recovered.

Nothing mobilises a town like a worthy cause, and this was the most sensible and worthwhile Drabville had been involved in for a long time.

Together, Milli, Ernest, Fritz and Von Gobstopper went to find Theo and the others, who were still in their underground hideaway.

‘Don’t tell us!’ cried a distressed Pascal. ‘Don’t tell us what he has done!’

‘It’s okay!’ Ernest said. ‘We have good news. It’s over.’

When they finished describing what had happened, and Pascal saw that Fritz’s usually stern face was flooded with relief and the rigidity in his shoulders had dissolved, she spun into a delighted pirouette.

Milli leaned against Fritz’s shoulder. ‘The arcade is yours again!’ she said. ‘I don’t expect Lord Aldor will be resurfacing any time soon.’

Ernest turned to Von Gobstopper. ‘I can’t believe the magic you implanted in your toys was strong enough to defy the powers of someone as powerful as Lord Aldor,’ he said. ‘Which means…you truly are the best toymaker in all the world!’

Gustav Von Gobstopper smiled and squeezed the children’s hands in his. He beckoned Fritz to his side.

‘Who knows how things might have gone without your help,’ said the toymaker. ‘You are, without a doubt, the bravest children I have ever encountered. I think, Fritz, some new toys will have to be created in their honour.’

‘My uncle and I cannot thank you enough,’ said Fritz solemnly. ‘Your kindness will not be forgotten.’

‘What will you do now?’ asked Milli.

‘I am looking forward to doing very little,’ smiled Von Gobstopper. ‘Fritz here is more than capable of continuing the family business. It’s time for Fritz to show the world what he can do.’

Milli and Ernest were eager to get back to their families, but the toys felt they couldn’t let
this momentous occasion pass without saying a few words. Theo went first, blushing slightly under his fur.

‘You children have certainly proved yourselves worthy on more than one occasion,’ he said. ‘I feel very honoured to have met you both.’

He untied the black bandana that he wore around his head and handed it to Milli. He untied another from around his neck for Ernest.

‘You’ve earned this.’ Next, Pascal trotted forward, her tutu quivering with excitement. She tugged on Ernest’s trouser leg and demanded to be picked up. Standing on her tippy-toes on his palm, she reached up and kissed him on the cheek, then did the same to Milli.

‘I knew we could rely on you,’ she said. ‘How frightening it must have been out there! Oh thank you, thank you! Who knows where we would all be now if it hadn’t been for the two of you. Can I come and live with you, Milli? I could be your special doll. Don’t take offence, Ernest, it’s just that I know you have brothers and little boys tend to pull my hair.’ She lowered her voice. ‘A friend of mine had all her hair cut
off by a bored child with a pair of scissors. I should feel much safer in a household where the majority of occupants are women.’ And she gave an almighty twirl that lasted several minutes.

Then it was Captain Pluck’s turn to come forward. ‘You have done well, young master,’ he said to Ernest, nodding his wooden head emphatically. He drew his little sword from its sheath and coughed to indicate that he would like to be lifted up level with Ernest’s face. Ernest obliged and Captain Pluck solemnly tapped him on each shoulder, stretching a little in order to reach. ‘Wear this golden tassel with pride; we are honoured to have you in our ranks. For your contribution so far, I thank you humbly. You have the heart of a lion inside the body of a rabbit.’

Ernest’s face fell a little at this. He knew he wasn’t a solidly built boy, like Horace Rugknuckle, but he was almost certain that
rabbit
was a slight exaggeration. He chose to ignore it, however, and accepted Pluck’s offering graciously.

The toy soldier then bowed deeply to Milli.

‘Little Miss Klompet, you have proved to us all that not only are you fair of face but as gallant as the most daring of soldiers. You looked evil in the eye and did not swoon or scream or run away. I doubted you and for that I am deeply sorry. Can you ever forgive me?’

‘Of course I can, Captain,’ Milli said with a smile. ‘You needn’t even ask.’ She couldn’t help chuckling to herself as she looked at the soldier’s worried little face. ‘You
are
the silliest soldier I’ve ever met in my life,’ she said and hugged him affectionately.

‘We are very grateful for all you’ve done,’ said Theo. ‘You’ve saved us all and we won’t ever forget it.’

‘Not quite all,’ said Milli softly, her thoughts returning to the prison and a pair of puddle-brown eyes.

‘Yes, he was the best sort of toy, one of a kind,’ said Theo quietly. ‘And he will never be forgotten.’ He placed a paw on Milli’s hand. ‘Try to think of him as he would want to be remembered. Think of all the wise things he said, and how he loved Pascal. Remember the trust you placed in him and how he never let
you down. Remember how his saddle shone, for he was proud of that.’

Milli felt a tear roll down her cheek and plop onto the floor. She saw that Fritz’s eyes were bright with tears as well.

‘We won’t forget you, Loyal,’ she whispered, so quietly that nobody heard her. ‘
I
won’t ever forget you—just as you didn’t forget about us.’

She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Come on, everyone, let’s introduce you to our town.’

Rosie was very pleased to meet Fritz and Gustav Von Gobstopper. The poor inventor was quite overwhelmed with the attention he was receiving. Everybody wanted to talk to him or shake his hand or ask him how he felt about all that had happened. In the end, Rosie was forced to put an arm around his shoulder and steer him out of the path of eager townsfolk.

‘Let the man rest for a while,’ she said. ‘He has been through an ordeal.’ It was settled that Von Gobstopper and his nephew would stay at the Klompet household for the time being until
alternative accommodation was arranged for them.

‘You are too kind to us,’ said Fritz, as his uncle was too stunned to utter a word. ‘We don’t wish to impose.’ Rosie soon dismissed any such talk with a lecture about the importance of fresh food and an early night.

‘Your uncle is in no state to look after you and you are far too young to be living alone,’ she said.

‘I’m almost eighteen,’ Fritz replied, standing very tall.

‘Nonsense,’ Rosie replied, straightening his collar. ‘Come along now.’

As they gathered outside to walk home together through the snow, Pascal sat propped on Ernest’s shoulder whilst Milli walked between Captain Pluck and Theo, holding the teddy bear’s hand in her own.

Milli saw her mother and urged the others along to catch up with her. ‘Mum, I’d like you to meet some special people,’ she said. ‘This is Theo, Pascal and Captain Pluck—they looked after us in the arcade.’