Jennifer Jane and the treasure 3/5

Jennifer Jane ran back to the magic clearing as quickly as possible and opened her umbrella. Sure enough that did the trick, - whoosh - she was whisked up into the air and was just as quickly dropped again outside the Wish Warehouse.

Lieutenant Moonshine was waiting for her.

"Sorry, Jennifer Jane," she said, "I'm afraid the long distance clouds are all away and aren't due back until tomorrow and the short haul clouds are all having their five thousand mile service. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible but you'll have to wait for a while."

"Oh dear," said Jennifer Jane, "I really do have to see Clarence. It's very important."

"Well then, if it's really urgent, I suggest that I put you down at the giant's pool. Barnacle Bill is due there in a moment and if you ask him nicely, he could take you down river to the Witches' Home. I'm sure one of them would fly you to Clarence on a broomstick. But you be very careful when you see him," said Lieutenant Moonshine, "dragons can be very cunning when they want to get their own way."

"Gosh, that's a smashing idea. Thank you," said Jennifer Jane. "And yes, I'll be very careful when I meet Clarence."

She just had time to call "bye", when she was off again and this time, she landed gently by the giant's pool.

Barnacle Bill had just moored his paddle steamer and was chatting to the giant.

"Hello, Jennifer Jane," they both said at once, "we haven't seen you for ages."

"Please can you help me?" asked Jennifer Jane and told them the story.

"A trip to the Witches' Home in my vessel?" said Barnacle Bill proudly, "as easy as falling off the Royal yardarm! All aboard, cast off forrard, cast off aft, see you soon, Mr Giant" and with a 'toot-toot' on his steam whistle, he turned the paddle steamer round and headed out of the pool and into the magic fog of the river.

"Witches' Home, please," he said and as they steamed out of the fog, there in front of them appeared a beautiful old half timbered house with a long lawn running down to a landing stage on one bank of the river.

Barnacle Bill steered his steamer towards the bank. "Hard astern both, stop engines," he called out and the boat glided gently up to the landing stage and stopped.

"Make fast forrard, make fast aft, done with engines," said Barnacle Bill.

Jennifer Jane wondered why he called out all the orders, since he was doing all the work himself but she supposed it made him feel like a real sailor.

A witch was running down the lawn towards them. "Come along now, Jennifer Jane. Hurry up, we don't have much time to get there and back before teatime. How you always manage to want something on the days when there's chocolate Swiss roll for tea, I'll never know."

Jennifer Jane recognised the witch at once. She was the nice young one who she’d helped to get a new broomstick.

"Thanks for the ride, Barnacle Bill," she called and hurried off after the witch towards a large shed by the side of the house.

Inside the shed were rows of broomsticks and the witch ran over to the newest looking sparkly one and sat on it. The broom and the witch rose in the air about eighteen inches.

"Hop on behind me," said the witch.

"Rather like people you see riding on motorbikes," thought Jennifer Jane, as she climbed on. It was a bit wobbly at first but was surprisingly comfortable. She put her arms round the witch's waist and held on tightly.

"That's fine," said the witch and they were off.

Well, the witch really was in a hurry to get there and back in time for tea. The ground simply flashed past. They were going so fast that they overtook a small aeroplane.

"Out of the way," yelled the witch, as the broom swerved to pass the aeroplane, "Sunday drivers," she yelled at the pilot. "They can't see us, of course," she said over her shoulder "but it helps relieve my feelings."

Jennifer Jane knew more or less what she meant. Dad sometimes shouted at other cars when he was driving.

"Down we go," the witch said suddenly. They had already arrived at the cave where Clarence lived.

"Oh, jolly good show," boomed a voice from inside the cave, "I hope you've brought my food, I'm starving. There hasn't been a cloud round for quite a while now."

"Good luck," said the witch, "I hope you manage to get what you want."