'Trouble in Trickletown'
The weather was beginning to deteriorate and it had started to drizzle.
It was far too dangerous for a street bike: there were too many obstacles in the way – and now he was approaching the Mists of Time, Willey would need to be extra careful.
He hid his bike and the Golden Ring of his Time-Line deep in some bushes. He was now even more determined to find the Talking Teapot, just as the Orange Envelope had said. So with the Silver Ring of his Time-Line safely on his finger, he continued his journey on foot and disappeared into the thick, grey mist.
Ahead of him lay the Emerald Forest and the mysteriously forgotten location of the Knick-Knack Tree.
Willey wondered what he might find there, as in his dream he had seen the Knick-Knack Tree’s face, and it was surrounded by thorns!
The rain was falling heavily now and there was no further sign of the Talking Teapot. Willey was about to give up, when his thoughts were rudely interrupted by a loud shout: “WATCH OUT WHERE YOU ARE TREADING! And if I were standing where you are, I would not take another step nearer that fence!”
Willey could not see anyone, and he hadn’t noticed a fence, even though he was now standing right in front of one.
“Colonel Tuft, 455 Regiment, Trickletown Valleys’ Under-Cover Grass Army, at your service!” shouted the voice. “I am here to warn you about the dangers of Cedric’s Field.”
Chapter 9
A Brief Encounter by a Fence
Willey listened intently as Colonel Tuft continued with what was worrying information, “You do not want to enter that field, it is far too dangerous,” whispered Colonel Tuft, making sure he could not be overheard. “Even if you manage to get past the Field Grass Army, there is Cedric to worry about … and then if you get past him there is the hedge of venomous thorns …”
This information was certainly alarming, but whilst Willey was taking it in, he realised he had a question of his own for Colonel Tuft; wherever he might be hiding!
“Have you seen the Talking Teapot?” asked Willey.
“Teabags?” replied the voice. “Yes he was around here earlier, but didn’t stay long. He was muttering something about a lawnmower and said he would be back first thing in the morning.”
SPLOSH! Willey slipped backwards and sat in a puddle.
Colonel Tuft laughed. Willey could now see the fence and it was HUGE; and on a gate that was bigger than a bus were the words:
‘CEDRIC’S FIELD
KEEP OUT
PS Keep off the Grass’
​
‘Well, if this is the size of the gate,’ thought Willey, he was not entirely sure he wanted to meet Cedric at all.
Colonel Tuft and his Under-Cover Grass Army manoeuvred into position around Willey sitting in the puddle.
Although they were all extremely small and made of grass, they were very well-armed with an impressive display of weaponry. Headed by a sharp and fearsome blade on the tip of their rifles, and beneath a line of tin hats appeared a row of Fuddle-like faces.
A sternly raised eyebrow was enough to bring this fearless rank of soldiers to attention.
“Captain Couch-Grass – SIR!”
“Sergeant Dog’s-Tail – SIR!”
“Corporal Hay-Maker – SIR!”
“Privates Timothy, Foxtail, Cock’s-Foot and Flattergrass;”
“Sir”, “Sir”, “Sir”, “Sir”; “Pickle Sir!”
“‘Pickle Sir!’ Who the … Oh it’s … Well the impertinence of it!” shouted Colonel Tuft.