The Winged Witch 14/15

One month later a most impressive group left the Witches’ Home to fly to the research centre in world two hundred and thirty. The newly qualified Polly, flying her first broom with an excited Robert clinging on behind, was proudly wearing her pointed hat and witches cloak bearing the G.O.W. emblem. There weren’t any apprentice stripes for her since she was still in her first year and was likely to remain so, but none of the people they were to meet knew that. Abigail had also joined the party in her full regalia.

The only person not dressed especially for the occasion was Jennifer Jane, who as usual was riding her scooter, which was carrying two large sacks of teeth to enable Polly and Robert to make a start on their new jobs. She felt that she shouldn’t spoil Polly’s day by dressing up and making it obvious that she was the most junior member of the party in witchcraft terms.

A small crowd awaited them as they flew into the research centre near Smallport. Sam had made special arrangements to be present since he was the original contact with their world. The senior scientist welcomed the group and expressed his hopes for a long and fruitful partnership. Abigail made a short speech in reply, before they were all taken to the room put aside for Polly’s use.

While Polly and Robert were being shown the equipment, Abigail wandered round apparently aimlessly, visiting each corner of the room in turn, looking at tables and benches as she went. Jennifer Jane smiled quietly to herself; Abigail was using a boundary spell around the room. She had performed a secrecy spell before leaving the Home, but had left out the activating final flick. Once she was satisfied with her preparations, she undid her cloak moving her fingers inside the material as she took it off.

Polly had been told of the signal and removed her own finery, hanging it on the stand near the door beside Abigail’s.

“This really has been done up nicely for us both,” she said, “I think Robert and I will be very happy working here.”

Sam put his head round the door. “If you’d like to come with me I’ll show you where the canteen is, then I have to take you to your living quarters. After that you’ll know where everything is and I’ll leave you on your own until tomorrow so that you can settle in.”

By the time he’d taken them on the round trip Polly had lost all sense of direction. She began walking back the wrong way.

Sam laughed, “Sorry miss you need to go along here.” He put his arm round her shoulders to steer her in the right direction and then looked at her in surprise. “I don’t want to appear rude,” he said, “but your shoulders are extremely muscular for someone of your size!”

Polly grinned, while Robert burst out laughing. Sam looked at them both wondering what on earth he’d said that was so funny.

“Polly is a fairy,” said Robert, “her shoulder muscles are the one she uses to fly!”

Sam went bright red with embarrassment. “But... but,” he spluttered helplessly.

“Come outside,” said Polly “and I’ll show anyone who doesn’t believe in fairies what we can do!”

Sam had a quick word into his comlink and by the time they’d reached the area where Jennifer Jane had parked her scooter there was a huge crowd gathering. Abigail had been talking to her apprentice while they waited for Polly and Robert to return from their tour and they both looked round in surprise as a crowd began to build up around them.

They didn’t remain in suspense for very long. The newcomers in the crowd were all discussing in very loud voices, the fact that Polly was a fairy and intended to give them all a flying exhibition as a special treat.

Jennifer Jane looked at Abigail with her eyebrows raised.

“Don’t worry she’s been taught how to ‘wind up’ a spell in private before using it, just as I did in the workroom. It’s very useful and I must remember to show you as soon as we get back to the Home.”

Polly was having a chat with Sam as they approached. Once again he spoke into his comlink and by the time they reached Abigail and Jennifer Jane, men were beginning to drive poles into the ground and tie ropes between them to hold back the crowd.

A fairly large area was cleared to allow more people to see clearly. A loud cheer greeted Polly as she walked confidently into the cleared space, still wearing the heavy jumper that most fairies wore when they needed to disguise their wings. Sam asked for silence, using the public address setting on his comlink and the noise died down. Polly made a modest statement about her flying abilities that Sam repeated to the audience and then she pulled her jumper off over her head. There was a stunned silence from the crowd, broken by another huge roar of cheering as she opened her wings to display them to her audience.