Free The Golden Acorn by Catherine Cooper Page B

for food. He only had himself to blame. Elan had told him to close the window and he’d forgotten. He ought to close it now. As he crossed the room he saw a bent black feather on the floor by the window. He’d have to speak to Camelin in the morning but he wouldn’t tell Nora. He didn’t want to get the raven into any more trouble.

    As he lay in bed he thought about the things he’d seen and heard in Newton Gill Forest. He would go back and visit the Gnarles again. They were so sad. He couldn’t let that happen to Glasruhen. He’d have to be careful not to let the angry little man see him. He certainly didn’t want to bump into him again. Suddenly Jack sat bolt upright. He remembered the little man had a bent feather in his hatband, a black feather. He suddenly felt afraid. There was a bump outside the window. He grabbed his wand so he’d have some light and pulled back the curtain. Jack gasped. Two hands clung onto the window ledge. Slowly a red hat without its bent feather, an angry face and the long nose of the little man he’d met in the woods came into view.

ADDERGOOLE PEABODY
    Jack was frightened. He was glad he’d closed the window. At least the little man couldn’t get in. Should he call Grandad or try to use his wand? He was unable to move or call out. The little man bared his teeth and shouted. Jack heard his muffled snarl through the window.
    ‘I’ve come for my gold!’
    A sudden movement in the sky made Jack look up. A dark shape with its wings tucked in, twisted and spiralled down towards the window. The little man was making too much noise to notice the attack from above. At the last minute before it crashed into the window the bird levelled out, rapped its beak on the little man’s head then opened its wings and flew into a nearby tree.
    ‘Camelin!’ exclaimed Jack.
    ‘Ow!’ the little man screamed and instinctively put his hands on his head to stop the pain.
    Jack saw the look of horror in the little man’s eyes when he realised he’d let go of the window ledge. He plummeted out of sight. A great wailing began. Jack knew he’d landed in the holly bush. Grandad must have heard the commotion. With his nose pressed flat on the window he craned his neck but he’d lost sight of the man. Everything went quiet. Jack peered into the darkness to try to find Camelin. He waved his wand to get his attention but sparks began to fly everywhere. As Jack raised his wand the little man was tossed out of the bush and somersaulted in the air. Camelin swooped and chased him in a circle around the lawn. The little man stopped running and looked up. His spindly legs started to shake when he saw Jack open the window. He turned in an instant and ran off at a great speed through the vegetable garden. Camelin flew over to Jack.
    ‘Put that down before you do any damage.’
    Jack put his wand in his left hand. Everything went dark and it took a few moments for is eyes to adjust. Camelin hopped into Jack’s bedroom.
    ‘I think he was after the acorn. Who is he?’
    ‘A Bogie.’
    ‘Ergh, where?’ said Jack, checking his nose.
    ‘No, he’s a Bogie,’ explained Camelin, nodding in the direction the man had gone.
    ‘What’s a Bogie?’
    ‘Someone you should never talk to. They learn all your secrets then trade them for something they want.’
    ‘I spoke to him in Newton Gill Forest.’
    ‘I hope you didn’t tell him anything.’
    ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘That’s good,’ laughed Camelin, ‘because I’ve just told him you’re a great wizard and if he comes here again you’ll turn him into a Brownie.’
    ‘But… I’m not a great wizard.’
    ‘He doesn’t know that; he didn’t like what you did to him with your wand.’
    Jack realised his hands were trembling and he was glad his wand was safely in his left hand.
    ‘What’s a Brownie?’
    ‘Don’t you know anything? A Brownie is about the same size as a Bogie but the complete opposite. They’re helpful and kind and have tiny