The taming of Tornak the terrible 4/5

John the woodcutter was having a day he would remember and talk about for the rest of his life. In the last hour he'd saved his woodcutting team from Tornak the Terrible and now he could see a party of people with a young dragon walking towards Lurgin's Bridge.

"Stay well hid men," he said quietly, "there's three witches and a dragon going to be eaten in a moment and we may see the Troll himself, if we're lucky."

The watching woodsmen heard the murmur of voices as the little group stopped. Then to their amazement everyone walked slowly over the bridge and ran off.

"Well I'll be blowed," said John, "we'll never see the likes of that again, no one has passed the bridge in living memory and now there's four of 'em got over and old Lurgin doesn't sound too happy either."

----O----

Jennifer Jane and her friends ran as fast as they could until Lurgin's shouts faded in the distance.

"Can't run anuvver step," said Esmerelda.
"Me neever," said Dulcibella.

Jennifer Jane was too puffed to say anything.

"Wasn't that fun?" said Cyril. "You are clever, Jennifer Jane."

They followed the path for half an hour and then Esmerelda said, "There's the Gate and our fire spot Dulce. Now we know we're 'ome safe."

A small shadow suddenly appeared on the ground before them and rapidly became larger.

Cyril was the first one to realise what it was. "It's my Daddy," he cried happily and he jumped up in the air and flew to meet him.

Tornak the Terrible pulled out of his dive towards the first group of peasants he'd seen for a week and followed by Cyril, made a rather clumsy landing nearby.

"How nice to see you again, my boy. I see you've managed to find some firelighters for your Dad."

"You mustn't eat them, Daddy," said Cyril, "they're my friends. You know Esmerelda and Dulcibella and Jennifer Jane's an apprentice witch from the other world beyond the Gate."

Tornak looked at them more closely. "Oh, all right then," he grumbled, "I suppose I'd better invite you all home to tea and you can tell me where he's been for the last month."

They walked past the fire spot, through the woods and towards Tornak's cave. Cyril was chatting happily to his Dad about Auntie Megan and Uncle Clarence, who were looking after him in the other world.

"Auntie Megan lives in a place called Wales. They have stuff there called coal, which tastes ever so nice and if I eat it, I can flame properly just like a grown-up."

"Your mother will be pleased about that," said Tornak. "I wonder if there's any coal in this world? It's getting very difficult to find a nice crunchy peasant these days and something else to keep my fires alight would be welcome."

"I'm sure they must have coal in the village on the other side of the river," said Jennifer Jane. "If you promised not to eat the villagers any more, I expect they'd be only too pleased to give you some."

The taproom of the George and Dragon was crowded with people listening to John's tale about the witches who had crossed Lurgin's Bridge. Those who couldn't get in were on the village green in little groups, each one listening to the same story from one of the other woodcutters.

Suddenly there was pandemonium outside. Amid shouts of "'Ware, Dragons!" everybody rushed to their homes and began barring their doors and windows. John looked out through the inn window. Tornak and Cyril were just landing on the village green and the three witches he had last seen crossing Lurgin's Bridge were sitting on Tornak's back.

He watched as the witches climbed down. Then the smallest one walked towards the inn.

"Please don't be frightened," called Jennifer Jane, "Tornak has promised not to eat anyone today. I think I have an idea that may save anyone from ever being eaten again."

John opened the window slowly. "Just you stay where you are and tell me about this idea of yours."