Beyond the Witches' Home 4/5

They all walked back to the river side of the Witches' Home and sat down on the lawn. Jennifer Jane gave a little shiver. It all looked so normal and peaceful and yet ten minutes ago a giant had nearly eaten her.

Abigail called over one of the younger witches. "Do you think we could have a cup of tea and a slice of cherry cake, please? We've just had rather a narrow squeak in the alternate world and I think we need to steady our nerves."

Jennifer Jane looked at Abigail in astonishment.

"Yes, I did say cherry cake. I think you've probably seen enough chocolate Swiss roll for one day."

"I'm confused," said Barnacle Bill. "Where were we and what was all that about?"

"I'll start at the beginning," said Abigail "and then you'll have all the answers."

"A very long time ago, long before the pyramids were built in Egypt, the world was populated by what we now call fairy folk. Some of them were nice to know and some of them were definitely not. The trouble was that the nasty ones wouldn't let the nice ones alone. After years of argument, the witches finally came up with an answer. Representatives of all the fairy folk were called to a meeting and the Grand Wizard of the day, told them the plan.

The world would be divided into two by magic and the Witches' and Wizards' Guild would create gates at various points, which would be the only way to get from one world to the other. Those who wanted to stay with the old ways would be allowed to go into the other world.

After a hundred years or so, all of the nasty types had left. People like the Trolls all went very early on. Lots of giants went too and even some of the witches. Nowadays, hardly anyone goes through the Gates although they are kept open just in case somebody wants to pass in or out. Of course, they usually have to be passed by the guard. Today Jennifer Jane went through without being noticed, because no-one these days thought a human being would ever find a gate."

"I really went to another world?" asked Jennifer Jane.

"Oh yes; its only contact with us is through magic at this point in space. Some of your scientists are on more or less the right lines with their theories of parallel worlds and divergent time lines. Now, we're not allowed to stop people from crossing over if they want to, so we're going to make sure that you'll be safe if you're ever silly enough to do it again."

"I don't think I'll want to go there any more," said Jennifer Jane.

"I think you might. Wasn't it your history teacher who said you had an insatiable curiosity?"

"No," said Jennifer Jane, "it was my English teacher."

"Well, whoever it was, it wouldn't surprise me if next time we had to try and rescue you from the giant's castle."

"I thought the witches all belonged to the Grand Order of Wizardry," asked Barnacle Bill.

"Quite true," said Abigail "but in those days it was only a guild. All the groups used to have their own guilds but most of them have disappeared now. I think the only one left is the Guild of Dwarfish Craftsmen."