The Magician's lecture 2/7

He waited as some of the passengers helped her climb on board and then picked them all up and strode off towards Lurgin's Bridge and the Witches' Home.

Some of the villagers were shaking their heads in dismay as the party left the village.

"Never trust a giant my old Dad used to say."

"One of these days he'll forget to bring them back and then where'll we be? Twenty or so, all gone at once."

"Can't teach an old dog new tricks you know. One day he'll eat the lot, you mark my words."

As the giant neared the Gate, Jennifer Jane looked over the edge of the box and could see a semi-circle of witches already assembled in the field by the drawbridge. It seemed as if she was going to be too late after all. The open side of the semi-circle faced the woods opposite the Gate and standing in the open space was a small figure who she assumed must be the Magician.

From her vantage point she was struck by the strange appearance of the magic which joined the two worlds. From this side the magic haze surrounding the Home looked rather like a half egg shell lying flat on the ground, with the castle in the visible half and just a mirror like surface covering the half timbered house of the Witches' Home.

As she watched, the Magician lifted his arm and wiggled his fingers. A loud rumble rather like thunder followed and the haze over the Home disappeared, so did the mansion house. Only the castle and its drawbridge was left standing, the rest of the Home looked as if it had been cut off cleanly with a knife.

The giant didn't seem to take much notice and the rest of his passengers had been too busy talking amongst themselves to realise that anything had changed. Jennifer Jane jumped out of the box as soon as it was put down and with a quick 'Thankyou' to the giant, she ran over to the crowd of witches.