The wizard's revenge 10/11

She had to wait until nine o'clock the next morning for the 'taxi' to arrive. It turned out to be a pony and trap. Thank goodness it had stopped raining and looked like being a nice day. She opened her suitcase and magicked a cherry cake for the porter as a 'thankyou,' for letting her stay in the waiting room. She didn't want to see another chocolate swiss roll for a very long time. If her plans worked out she'd have to get Abigail to show her a larger variety of things to make.

She still had several pounds in gold left from her cake sales, so she was easily able to afford the ride to the Therdle. The driver was curious about her reasons for wanting to go to such a 'god forsaken place'. She tried to explain that her Father kept a yacht there and she was hoping to join him. It was true in a way but the man obviously thought she was peculiar.

"Nowt there but fisher folk and mud!"

After that he didn't say another word. The pony trotted along the familiar road and Jennifer Jane got quite excited when at last she saw the river. The driver stopped at a large house just beside a broken down old pier.

"Guest house," he said and taking his money without another word, he turned the trap round and drove back the way he'd come.

A lady came out of the Guesthouse to see who the new arrival could be. Jennifer Jane explained that she hoped to be staying for only one night.

Making sure that the 'lad' had enough money to pay for his keep, the lady showed her to her room. "Evening meal at six, doors locked when it's dark and breakfast at half past eight."

Jennifer Jane thanked her politely and then popped out for a stroll before supper. It was a very strange experience. Everything was so familiar and yet somehow different. The guesthouse was in better repair than she was used to seeing. The 'oyster cottages' for the fishermen, were still in place but not so well kept. That was all.

There was no yacht club at all but then she'd expected that. The ground where the holiday cottages were built in her world, was no more than just a large empty field. There were two horses grazing on it. She followed the road past the field. It turned right and went on towards the sea wall, just as she was used to. The road, which in her world carried on from the turning and lead to an estate of holiday homes, didn't exist.

Her plan was to find the fog in Attersea Creek and try to get home that way. The only route likely to be firm enough underfoot would be along the sea wall. It would take longer but if all went well it would be worth it.

She got back to the guesthouse just in time for supper. The lady owner was coming out into the lane to see where she'd got to. Jennifer Jane apologised, ran upstairs, had a quick wash using the companion set in her room and arrived in her place just as the meal was placed on the table.

She paid her dues the next morning and set off along the sea wall towards Attersea Island. For the first time in days she took off her cap and revelled in the fresh air. She looked across at the island as she reached the corner but there was no sign of any habitation. She turned south at last and could finally see the fog in the distance. Her journey was nearly over.