The Map World Trilogy

Part Six

Hattie’s face dropped and sank down into her knees. She had been caught. Horace looked at Verk in utter amazement, as the less than stern fellow continued to puff away on his pipe in a calm, collected manner. ‘Brian would not let anyone in, you know that!’ he said in disbelief.

‘Then why don’t we asked the girl? Harriet, I suggest that you come out from behind there and show yourself to your Uncle.’ Verk turned his body towards where Hattie was hiding, and beckoned her over with a movement of his pipe. Hattie took a deep breath and climbed out nervously from behind the rock. She stepped into the light of the room, amidst lots of unhappy muttering.

‘Harriet Umblebridge! What on Earth are you doing down here?!’ Horace stood as he spoke, furious to find his niece playing spying games.

‘Showing a good deal of initiative and inquisitiveness, Horace, two of your fabled traits if I am correct in saying? Horace, please sit yourself down, no need to get irate. Harriet, please come here.’

 ‘You are in serious trouble Harriet, I assure you! I forbid you to come down here and you have the ordacity to show no regard for anything I ask!’

‘Horace, please. Sit down old boy, drink your wine.’ Horace sat down with his eyes glued to Hattie; his glare reflected his anger. Hattie walked over with her tail firmly between her legs. ‘Don’t look so worried dear girl, please take a seat. We have some congratulating to do, lads,’ Verk cried out to the other men, outstretching an arm towards a very sheepish Hattie. ‘This girl has penetrated our once impenetrable ‘fortress’. This girl has done what many have failed to do and I believe there must be some commending to do!’ The men looked at one another and then looked at Horace, who by this point had his arms crossed over the table; his head down low in disappointment.

He spoke: ‘Congratulating? I’m sorry, I thought that any entrance to this place was strictly forbidden to all who were of not of....not of a certain kind?’ Horace did not raise his head at this. His eyes stared directly at the food in front of him with his mind wondering whether or not to eat the carrot cake and conform to comfort eating.

‘You are indeed correct, friend. However, as times are a changing around these parts, it may be of necessity that we welcome our newly fledged adventurer into our arms. She has obviously got a knack for digging, Horace, otherwise she would not have ventured down here. That takes balls, and I like balls!’ Verk straightened up his body to this and fluffed up his chest in a proud fashion.

‘But I don’t have any balls.’ Hattie remarked, it was meant to be a sarcastic comment – Horace recognised this and sighed loudly, Verk however continued unaware.

‘Metaphorical ones my dear girl. It would appear that tonight’s proceedings have not gone as strictly to plan as one would have hoped for. And I gather from your confuddled expression, that you are wondering what on Earth we are doing down here right?’

‘It had crossed my mind, yes. That and other questions.’

Horace spoke out at this, realising that Verk was all-too-ready to divulge some very sensitive secrets, ‘Verk, can I speak plainly to you...In private if you don’t mind?’

‘Of course’. The two men excused themselves from the table and walked over to the far wall. Hattie remained seated at the table. She looked at the other three men that were transfixed to her, studying her intently with their eyes as they continued to chew on their dinner. She smiled a nervous smile and the men looked elsewhere rather put out by the presence of a female.

‘Verk, I don’t know what you are planning, but I want you to stop,’ Horace said to his senior. Verk nodded in false agreement and then answered Mr. Umblebridge.