Augusta! Whispered Jack. She’s she’s tiny!
They must have shrunk her. Whispered Annie.
Ha . whispered Jack.
He crawled the way from the door, Annie crawled after him, theypressed their back against the grassy mound,Why are wehiding? Asked Annie.
We can't let them see us. Said Jack. They might shrink us too.
But how are we going to see Augusta? Asked Annie.
I don’t know. Said Jack.
Hi1 I just remember something. Said Annie. didn’t Mary say the girlthe story? While she will come small if she goes inside the hollowhole?
Yes, she did. Said Jack.
So maybe that mean you can only get shrunk if you going inside.
Right. Said Annie. so let’s go back to the doorway and call fromoutside.
we will be simple, direct honest and very politely, like Willy said. wewill tell king and queen we’ve coming to take our friend back to herfamily.
But wait a minute. Said Jack. How can she go back toher normallife with her family? If she’s only 8 inches tall.
Good point. Said Annie. this is so weird. Said Jack.
Let’s worry about her height later. Said Annie. for now, we just haveto help her escape.
Right. Said Jack. Let’s try.
Jack and Annie crawled back to the entrench of hollow hole, andpeeked inside,In the pale green light, a very small Augusta, still watching thedancers.
Excuse us, please. Annie called.
The drumming stopped. The dancers froze. All eyes turned to Jackand Annie. the high king and high queen looked startled.
Who are you? The king called, how did you find us/That’s not important. Said Annie.
We are very sorry to bother you.
But we come to get our very dear friend Augusta. We have to takeher back to her very loving family. Please. Thank you. Added Jacktrying to be polite.
Before the king and queen could speak, Augusta rushed forward,No, I don’t want to go home! She screamed in her high little voice,I don’t want to leave the Shea!
Whoa! Said Jack.
That was surprised. Maybe Augusta was under some spell?
Leave here at once! The high king commanded Jack and Annie in ascreechy voice. You are not invited. You have no business here.
Yes. We are leaving right way, but Augusta has to come with us.
Annie called.
Thankyou, she’s right. Said Jack.
Augusta has to come with us, please! Thank you!
No. I want to stay here. Said Augusta. I am not good for anything athome, Mary was right, I am not happy there,Jack was amazed, Augusta wasn’t under spell, she really wantedtostay with Shea!
The girl will stay with us! The high king shouted, go now! now!
No way! Jack boozed out. We won't leave without Augusta.
The crowd gasped.
What/ roared high king.
Sorry, sorry, said Jack come in.
You will pay for this rudeness. The king yelled.
Before Jack and Annie could get away, the king thrust out his arms,sparkles flew from the tips of his tiny fingers, suddenly Jack andAnnie couldn’t move their arms or legs, the king kept pointing atthem,Skunks! he shouted at the crowd, or weasels!
Neither, please. Thank you! Shouted Jack.
He was glad he still could talk, but the crowd began chanting, instrange high voices,Skunks! Skunks! Skunks! Skunks! Skunks!
The king nodded, and raised his both arms into the air, Jack wasdespaired, he didn’t want to live the rest of his life as a skunk.
Wait, please. Jack shouted, I’m sorry I was rude, before youchange us, I really really need to tell Augusta something, thank you.
The king looked at Jack for along moment, then he lowed his arms,and the crowd grew silent,Thank you! Said Jack.
Augusta! Listen to me.
You should go back home, you are good for lots of things backthere. You are very kind, and Mary says you have a brave heartand fine mind, those are really good things to have.
Tears rolled down from Augusta’s cheeks, she shook her head,Listen to me, please! Jack went on:
Mary says you are not happy but some things do make you happyAugusta. You said you feel close to nature, you said you lovesimple folk like Mary, and I know you love stories, too.
Mary said you remembered every story she told you, you used totell her yourself, word for word, you have a great memory.
He is right. Augusta. Yelled Annie.
Those are your gifts. You need to give your gifts to the world.
Augusta was still for a moment, then she shook her head,I want to stay. She said.
You have a lot of to say. The high king shouted at Jack and Annie.
now prepare to become skunks.
He raised his arms againOh, no! thought Jack.
Wait, faint fare, said the high queen.
The high queen stepped closer to Augusta, the queen wore slivercloak, glitter with diamonds, she had jewels in her long red hair, thatshone like stars. Her high clear voice ran like a bell:
I am queen Ann of the Shea. She said.
The boy said you love stories, and do you remember every storyyou heard? Is this true?
Augusta nodded.
Then listen to our story. Said queen Ann.
All the Shea were very still, watching Augusta, and their queen.
In the morning of time, out of the rosy sky, and windy light we came.
Said queen Ann.
We were trifle super-natural people, called too hot day down in it.
Strong fearless noble we were, five rules carried our armies,through the woody lands of Ireland and for the Iyaz.
We ruled the Irish world.
But when the humans came, the wild woods gave away, to villagersand pesters , our treaded hollow holes in ruling the force under thesea. Over time we made ourselves smaller and smaller so we couldmore easily hidefrom humans, eventually we became nosiest theShea. And we were mocked as the waffles of the fairy.
But in truth, we are a tribe of great heritage, and we lived inenchanted places like this one protected by what is left for ourmagic.
Do you understand?
I do! Yes. Grieved Augusta.
Our stories were passed on for centuries in old language of Irelandbut the old language was replaced by the English, the storiesbegan to fade away. Queen Ann said.
Go home now with your friends human child, go back for our sake.
Seek out all the old stories tellers and ask them to tell you the talesof my people, learn the old language, read old manuscripts, writestories down on paper before they lost completely. Share them withall the people of Ireland, and all the world, will you do that for us?
Will you use your gifts to tell us stories that we store our dignity.
Augusta’s eyes shone,Yes she said.
Yes I will, yesGood, then I will send you all swiftly go home. Said queen Ann.
She backed to a small dancer, who stepped forward with tiny silverjellies,Sip the honey jam of the Shea. Said the high queen.
She took the jellies and handed it to Augusta. Augusta took a sip, asecond later, Jack felt cold and wind and rain.
He and Annie were standing on the bank of the river, Augusta wasstanding beside them. She was her normal size again. |