Dragon Games 3/4

Because of the delay caused by the need to re-float Barnacle Bill’s paddle steamer, the dragons only had two days left for their holiday before returning to their treasure guarding. Indeed, one or two of them had already gone home to make sure that their treasure sitters were doing the job properly.

Once the young dragons had gone to bed, the elders began chatting round the camp fire. The subject turned to the alternate world and what it must have been like in the days before the world was split magically.

Fred started to tell his story of life in that world. “It wasn’t all that pleasant, because not only did you have to hunt for food, but knights in armour would try and kill you to take your treasure.”

“You never knew if you were going to run into a magic spell by accident,” he continued, “in fact that was what happened to me when I went to visit my uncle Karg and as a result I came through to this world. It really is very much more pleasant here. There’s lots of treasure to look after and enough to eat without having to take any risks to get it. Cyril can tell you about it as well; after all he’s the son of Tornak the Terrible. Things weren’t at all nice until his dad was persuaded to eat coal.”

Cyril stood up. “I tell you what, if you like I can tell you the true story of how Jennifer Jane made dad eat coal and killed Lurgin the troll. After all I was there at the time, but if you don’t mind I’ll leave that till tomorrow night, because I’m very tired after to-days race.”

The last day of the dragon holiday was to be devoted to the flaming competition. Dragons who hadn’t competed in the previous day’s race, had gone over the island and collected as many bones as they were able to find. The competitors were allowed to eat as many as they thought they’d need to maintain their flame for the day.

Clarence was enthusiastically chewing away. “I haven’t had as many crunchy bits to eat since the time I helped young Melanie Lane stop the motorway being built near her home.”

In spite of the fact that he was preparing himself for his favourite competition, Megan hit him round the ears with her wing.

“Ouch, what have I done now?”

“How many more times must I tell you the girl’s name is Jennifer Jane?”

Clarence just grinned and crunched another bone.